Galbana Lilies for Penelo - Chapter 2

When Vaan returned from the Palace, Penelo couldn't help but noticed that love sick look in his smile. She felt a pang in her heart but chose to ignore it and try to be a nonchalant in her questions and answers.

"How was it?" She asked.

Vaan stared at her with a smile on his face, "It went better than planned." He finally said.

"So you final made a plan."

"Of course!" 'Lies' thought Penelo. The Queen must've been in a good mood she thought desperately, not truly paying attention to Vaan's story of how it went. From what she could gather, Ashe likes Galbana Lilies and Vaan told Penelo that he'd get her more tomorrow.

"Tomorrow? So soon." Penelo said.

"Before you start nagging me, Penelo, I must make it clear that Ashe suggested it, not me." Vaan smiled proudly to himself. "Must've made such a good impression that she's begging for me to come back.

"Oh Vaan," Penelo drowned, trying to sound tired yet she knew she'd not get any sleep tonight.

"Oh sorry, didn't want to bore you." Vaan snapped. Which in turn snapped Penelo back into the conversation. She may not care for his plans to get Ashe, she did not want Vaan angry with her.

"Sorry, Vaan." She said quickly, "Migelo had has me run errands for him all day. I don't know why, but it took a lot out of me. Maybe we can continue this in the morning." Penelo breathed heavily, she hoped Vaan hadn't sensed the worry laced in her words.

Of course he didn't, he was Vaan. "Ok!" He said happily. Just like him, always toying with her. Probably wasn't truly upset in the first place. But that's what she loved about him. His simplicity, his dreams and ambitions. Now that she thought on it, that was what she had over the Queen, she was part of his future. She and she alone. Ashe was not and could not. She as the queen.

Penelo sighed happily to herself and met Vaan's gaze, she stood and hugged him not too tightly and said her goodnights. As she walked through the back door of the Migelo's Sundries, she fantasised on how they're life would play out. Vaan would of course want a massive airship, but not a crew – only him and her. Like Baltheir and Fran. Come to think of it, where were those two. Vaan and her have been taking care of the Strahl in their absence but come to think of it, they hadn't heard or seen them since the Bahamut's fall.

Hard to believe it has been 6 months already. "Man time flies." Penelo said to herself as she walked up to her room on top the flight of stairs.

The night, as she expected, was restless. Vaan was in the room next to her and when they were young she go and sleep with him when she couldn't sleep on her own. When they were younger. They are older now and such actions would certainly not be met with the same amount of acceptance. The world dirtying their minds.

Though she was not certain as she had never attempted it.

"No!" She corrected herself. She couldn't allow herself to be drawn in like that. Besides Vaan likes Ashe, and Penelo's his best friend. Probably never even thought of her as the waoman she's grown into.

Penelo looked down and examined her breast. They'd been flat all her life and then just like that b=grew rapidly. They were modest before the event they had endured, but now 6 months after, they truly grown into a force to be reckoned with. She even found Kytes gawking at her a few times. Though she was secretly flattered she was openly offended. Not because she thought it bad for men to seek women they see pretty, just because Kytes is not the man she wants staring at her. No, that was Vaan. And he had to be all googly eyes for the Queen.

"Damnit, Ashe!" Penelo blurted out in frustration as she turned to lie on her stomach. "Why can't you find yourself a prince and live happily ever after?" She asked herself.

Penelo awoke the next morning with an excruciating neck ache. Caused by her constant tossing and turning. Though she initially felt bad about being ordered to rest for the day by Migelo, she later livened up when she found out who her Doctor for the day would be.

"Penelo!" She was stirred out of her 'between worlds' phase as Vaan came crashing into her room.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt. Do need medicine. I'll go out and buy cure don't worry." Vaan said frantically.

"Vaan," Penelo said calmly, trying to calm him down, "I'm fine and no, only my neck aches, I am alright. Besides, where would you get the money to buy cure?" Penelo said in her usually nagging tone.

Vaan blushed out of embarrassment. "Wel Migelo said you were sore, and not much else. I had to think the worse, I thought you might've fallen down the stairs yesterday when you were going to sleep. I told Migelo he needs to install some lights on the staircase.

Penelo laughed at his worries, but then stopped abruptly when she felt a strong pain swell on the left of her neck.

"Is it really that bad?"

"Yeah," Penelo said whilst gently rubbing it, "But it was worse this morning, I just need to rest is all."

"No!" Vaan pouted.

"No?"

"That's right. I need you Penelo, my day will be so boring without you. So you neck ache will be gone completely, never to return again. Wait here!" Vaan exited the room and Penelo let out a strained sigh, wondering what half-arse baked up plan Vaan had this time. Perhaps he was going to heal her with some backwater miracle medicine in the Sundries. Or actually go out and buy cure or esuna. Whatever happened she was secretly glad it was Vaan and not a real doctor. Yes, Vaan was certainly better equipped to deal with this situation.

Though she didn't truly know why he wanted to help her so much. It's not like she was dying or anything. Just a sore neck, nothing bad. All she needed to do was sleep. But she knew with Vaan going all out to help her she wouldn't be getting any sleep today.

Vaan returned to her room with many shopping bag's filled with indescribable herbal remedies, alchemy bottles, some potions but all in all it seemed Vaan had been quite busy.

"Ok, first the potions." Penelo nodded, knowing Vaan wouldn't risk a backstreet buy on her and went to a proper shop to buy her the medicine. She took the potion and it only succeeded in making her wide awake. She didn't know where to feel happy about now being fully aware of her surroundings, as drifting in between consciousness was quite peaceful. But on the other hand, her forced attempt of her trying to go to sleep was slowly giving her a headache.

After the potion failed, Vaan tried something from the Sundries which nearly singed her hair. He then gave her something called Barachus Wine. Penelo went into a fit of fury and it took Vaan a good few hours to get her to fully calm down. Only when she did, did she remember the pain in her neck. It had gotten stronger.

All through the day, did Vaan try and heal her but try as they might, her neck ache would not go away.

"Hmm, ooh I know!" Vaan said in a peppy thought. As to where this pep came from Penelo had no idea. But still she enjoyed Vaan's presence.

"What is it this time? An ancient Dalmascan spell that cured all sores?" Penelo said sarcastically.

"Nope, rub cream."

"Hmm," Penelo's ears perked up at the sound of 'rub'. She wondered if Vaan would opt to apply it himself. What would she say if he did? How would she say it? All these questions brought to a halt when Vaan said.

"Turn around."

"W-what?"

"Turn around, I need a good view of the neck."

Oh God, he was going to apply it himself, what to do, what to do, what do!

"Um.." Was all Penelo could blurt out.

"Don't worry," Vaan smiled, "I'll be gentle."

Oh Vaan. Don't say that! This is going to send me into a bigger berserk than that wine did. His skin against mine. Mmmm. No wait! This is really going to happen isn't it. Ahhhh!

Penelo tilted her head away from Vaan so he could see where the pain resonates. Under the right ear.

Vaan opened the case of the cream and stuck a finger in it. He sniffed the cream for god knows why and then went on to rub it gently into her skin. Imagine if he started the cream, thought Penelo as she silently enjoyed herself to the maximum of her pleasure. She thought Vaan would tell by her laboured breathe and smile that stretched from ear to ear that she was overly enjoying this, but a lass no. Vaan continued to do this simply because he wanted to heal her, not for any ulterior motive.

But then he stopped.

"Oh…" Penelo let slip through her lips.

"I need to go now Penelo." Vaan said solemnly.

"Why." Penelo tried not to allow the disappointment and longing be laced in her voice.

"I have to meet with her majesty. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting."

"I thought you were going to the palace?"

"I am. But still, I want to get their before she does. Allows me time to compose myself. Oh and also…I got you this." Vaan reached into the bag and picked out a single wilting Galbana Lily. "Sorry if its dying. Your health is more important than the health of some plant." Vaan chuckled.

"You seemed to put yourself at risk for these flowers when they were for Ashe." Penelo sighed and accepted the flower. "But thank you anyways." She flashed him a smile and Vaan leaned in and kissed her on the check, like he did every time when he went out at night. And each time, Penelo felt as though she was floating, even if they were just pecks on the cheek.

"You just rest up, ok Penelo." She nodded and smiled when Vaan rose to tuck her in. "And to make sure you do…" Sleep. Did just cast sleep on me? Penelo thought. But the only reasonable answer to her sudden drowsiness is sleep. Cheeky Bugger.

Penelo went to sleep with butterflies in her tummy and a smile on her face.