Here you go! The third part. Enjoy!!

I'm not completely certain about the raiting, to it's possible that this one shoud have an M raiting. I'm sorry if it's rated wrong.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII. Not even Balthier ...*Sigh*

Part 3

The streets where still buzzing, even after dark. As the newlyweds made their way up on the roof to watch the firework presentation, the cheer of the crowd rose once again. After their hasty engagement, there had been very little time for wedding preparations. Still, Ashe was impressed by the beauty and grandeur of it all. At her last wedding she had been too distracted to notice. But, she contemplated, this time she would at least be able to appreciate the efforts the people around her had put into this, and the fireworks were truly impressive.

They stood in silence, just watching. Amaranth, however, soon left her. Perhaps he sensed her total indifference to his presence. In any case, she was grateful that he did not force his company upon her. He just lightly pecked her cheek and left her to savour the fireworks alone. It filled the sky with multitudes of colours that lit up the darkness around her. The patterns changed and spiralled over the sky, and even though the thin fabric of her wedding gown was not enough to keep the wind out and she could feel goose bumps crawl up her skin, she was too swept away by the beauty to care.

It was cooler once the sun had set, and a light wind tugged at her veil and the feather ornament on her head. At one point, she even had to hold on to them, so that the wind would not sweep them away. She did not often go up on the roof. There wasn't very much room, but the view was breathtaking. She even got a bit dizzy when she leaned over the banister and looked down. The wind took advantage of her momentary distraction, and suddenly she could feel the long, white chiffon veil being tugged out of her hair. She spun around automatically and groped for it in the dark. It did not, however, go very far. Someone had caught it and stood now only feet away from her in the darkness.

The shock to find someone standing so closely behind her rendered her completely speechless. Her first thought was that the stranger was some assassin. She therefore opened her mouth to scream, knowing that her guards where always close by, but the stranger was too fast. He reached her within seconds, his hand suddenly resting on her mouth. She froze, not daring to move, but kept staring at the stranger, waiting. Then a new round of fireworks lit up the sky, and she saw him.

***

This was not what he had planned. Not what he had planned at all. He had thought the roof a good place to present himself, but he had not counted on the veil. To keep her from calling the guards, he then had to go even further. By now he had probably scared her out of her wits. He could see it in her expression, mingled with shock and anger.

"Balthier," she whispered in a shaky voice. He said nothing, just stood there looking at her. She was as paralyzed for a few more moments. But then: "Balthier," she said again, a little louder this time. Then she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

"Balthier, Balthier," she kept on silently whispering.

It was now his turn to be shocked, and it took a while for him to react. When he finally did, he hugged her close and fiercely, savouring the moment, because she would probably throw him off the roof once she had come to herself. And quite rightly. A moment later she broke the hug, tugged the veil from his hand, and stood up.

"Balthier, what are you doing here? Crashing my wedding?"

He understood this to be her way of reminding him that she was married. But that had really never been a noteworthy obstacle.

"Can't an old friend simply offer his congratulations?"

She didn't answer, but turned away to once more look up at the sky.

"It's beautiful, is it not," he whispered in her ear.

"I suppose you know all about that, pirate. I myself do not have the time to gaze at the sky."

"You are now," he retorted. She didn't answer, probably to avoid the verbal sparring it no doubt would have caused. Balthier lifted his hand, took the veil back and began to place it in her hair.

"Please don't do that," she asked softly. "It's been a long day. My head is so heavy from all the ornaments. It hurts."

So instead of placing it back on, he lifted his hand and began to pry out the feathers and the diadem. She stood quite still and let him. He then let his hand entwine in her hair, marvelling at the softness. Once again she did not object but stood very still.

"Why have you come back, Balthier?" she asked.

Because he could not come up with another answer, but mostly because he had wanted to for so long, he spun her around and kissed her. It was hasty and uncoordinated. His lips crashed hard against hers, pulling her closer. The pearly pink lips where soft, and she tasted like wine and salt. He expected her to break, to end it at any moment. But then her hand was in his hair, her lips moving against his. She kissed him. He was kissed. But even though there where nothing between them now, it was still as though they where separated. Perhaps it was her unattainability that he was so used to and could not quite shake. Or perhaps the unfamiliarity of a known face, suddenly so close. But then he let his tongue stroke over her lower lip, and parted them gently. At the feeling of one moist muscle against another, she let out a little sigh of surrender.

And then, nothing could separate them. The surprise only made him more eager. He let his hands stroke down her neck, caressing the soft, milk white skin. The other hand he placed on the small of her back, pulling her even closer. The thin fabric of her dress concealed very little, as he took in the feel of her body so close to his. He let his hand slide down, squeezing her buttocks. It caused a new little, satisfying gasp. Then she broke away, placing one hand on his chest, and pushed lightly. She looked at him in a way that was completely new. It did not, however, last for long. Her impatience must have been as great as his, because she found his hand and tugged him after her through the darkness.

He had not taken time to explore the roof, but it seemed as though there was a garden on it. And in the midst of the garden, a little greenhouse, which was now their destination. She wrenched open the door and pulled him in. She seemed to want to go further into the house, but by then Balthier had had enough. He prevented her from getting any further by simply pinning her body against the closest shelf. He then silenced any possible objections with a new series of kisses. Her hands found the small of his back, beginning to tug impatiently at the clasps that held his vest together, and soon she had removed it. She then proceeded to pull of his shirt, breathing heavily. Once it was off she let a hand stroke maddeningly light over his muscled chest. While she kissed and stroked him, he placed his hands on her hip, lifting her up on the shelf. With expert movements he had soon removed the upper parts of her dress, leaving her breast bare. The skin was as white as the rest of her body, with the pink of her nipple standing out in the darkness. He trailed a line of kisses over her breasts, down to them, and then began to nibble lightly. Another moan, and she pulled him closer, hands clasped around his neck. She moved her attention from his face, and began licking and nibbling his ear. She continued with this while her hands left his neck and began undoing his pants. Soon, with the eager help of Balthier, they were off. He then pulled her dress a little further up, and let his hand stroke down her thigh, letting his thumb stroke the inside. It was almost like a game had erupted between them. A game that would only end when one of them would not be able to resist any longer.

"Balthier," she gasped, as his fingers reached the sensitive skin between her legs and dipped inside. At the sound of her arousal, Balthier was the first to break. He pushed her even harder against the shelf, pressing his erection against her moist skin. At the comforting fact of arrival they became a little calmer at first. Then a new sort of frenzy began. The shelf creaked as they moved hard against it. Ashe tried to stifle her moans in the crock of his neck. He then continued his attentions with one free hand, and began stroking her most sensitive skin. This made her forget all about silence, and she tilted her head back and gasped loudly. The pace quickened, along with their breathing. Balthier closed his eyes, thrusting. Only aware the soft warmth that engulfed him and his lover's low cries of delight. Sparkling colours erupted behind his lids, as he was driven to the edge. Finally the clench or her muscles and her breath in his ear pushed him over.

They were perfectly still for a little while, waiting to regain control over their muscles. As their breathing slowed and the calm daze of after-sex bliss filled them, he leaned back and looked at her. His face was so beautiful and calm as he spoke the three words no amount of clichés can ever quite cheapen. He then lightly kissed her, and pulled out. She was too content and surprised to collect her mind enough to answer, but let him refasten her dress and his trousers. It struck her what power he must have over her, as he had made her abandon her wedding night with a royal for a pirate. She laughed a little.

"What's the joke?" he asked.

"I was just thinking of how easily you got your way. I had to marry for you to come back, while you only had to show your face in order to get what you want."

She didn't think much on what she said, to happy and warm to bother. But Balthier looked quizzical.

"What do you mean?"

"Surely, you only came back now that you know I'm tied to this place."

Something seemed to dawn on his face, but she felt too dazed to keep up with him. So she slid down of the shelf and went over to him, resting her head on his chest.

"You think I returned only to sleep with you?"

She sighed.

"You're a pirate. I never expected you to want this kind of responsibility. But I'm all right with that. After all, I thought you would never come back."

He froze a little then pulled her back.

"I came back because it took me this long to realize what I want. It was not evasion or cowardice. I love you, and would have gladly taken up the task of rule, it that was what it required." The sleepy spell seemed broken, and his eyes were fierce.

"Well, it's too late. I'm married now."

"So Dalmasca is safe. And you can come with me."

"Wait," she asked, tensing up. "You came here to steal me?"

"Why not?" he asked. "You don't belong on a throne. Just as little as I belong in a judges' armoire. Come with me. You have given Dalmasca her freedom. Don't you think it's time you had something in return?"

She did not know if it was the simple matter of habit that made his painfully true words seem so impossible.

"I will not leave my duty for a purposeless life as a pirate," she said in a rage.

"It will not be purposeless. Not as long as you have something to live for. Someone for whom you fight," he augmented in a most un-Balthier like manner.

"Well, I don't," was her last words, as she ran out of their little haven. She ran across the roof and to the door that led down to the palace and her housebound. He didn't follow her.

***

Yeah, okay, I know I said that I would make this story in two chapthers, but then what would be the point of the cliffie? But no worries, the last chapters will be up by tomorrow!