Thanks For the Memories

Chapter 3

I hailed a carriage and arrived at the airfield a half-hour later. After paying the driver, I dragged my suitcases to the Strahl's parking space, sighing with relief to see that it was still there. I knew they said they'd be in town for three days, but I'd learned not to put much stock in what skypirates say.

A small moogle ambled down the ramp as I approached the airship. "Hello Miss Penelo!" the moogle squeaked as she approached me. Her name was Gurdy and she was dressed in a long, pink dress with a flower pinned in her light brown fur, just under her left ear. Balthier had hired her and her brothers just after the Strahl had mysteriously disappeared from Vaan and my care several years previous.

"Hi Gurdy," I said fondly. I'd always had a soft spot for moogles. Absolutely adorable and good with a wrench, they'd offered me a lot more companionship than someone has of late.

"Miss Penelo! Mr. Balthier and Miss Fran aren't here right now, but they told me to see you inside if you showed up!"

"Well, thank-you, Gurdy," I said. I followed her up the Strahl's ramp, smiling down at her.

I put my bags in the guest bedroom I used only two nights ago and followed Gurdy to the engine room. Other that the top deck, the engine room was my favorite place to be when on an airship. I was surprisingly adept with a wrench myself and had fixed the Dancer on many occasions. With me around, Vaan never really had the need to hire moogles. A real money saver, I suppose.

"A turb ring will last longer if you grease it up a bit first," I said absentmindedly to a moogle named Limo.

"Your husband was right, you do know a thing or two about airships," Balthier said from behind me.

I turned to find him and Fran standing there, both wearing identical amused expressions. "I probably know more," I said truthfully.

"I wouldn't doubt it." They backed out of the room and I followed. "So you decided to take a vacation from the married life after all."

"A permanent leave of absence is what I'd call it."

"Don't say that, Penelo," Balthier said very seriously.

"Why not? He'll never change."

"You don't know that. Maybe your leaving for now is exactly what he needs to get his priorities straightened out."

"Maybe," I agreed doubtfully.

"Hmm. We'll be leaving momentarily so get ready for liftoff."

"We're leaving now? I didn't think you guys were leaving for another two days."

"That's how long we were going to wait for you to join us. Our business in Rabanastre is done and you're here now, so there is no reason to stay. Or is there, Penelo?"

I stopped short, breathing deeply. I was actually going to do this, I was actually going to leave my husband. My heart sped up and I felt flushed.

"Something wrong?" Balthier said with a wry, knowing smile.

I let out my breath, just realizing that I had been holding it. "No," I said determinedly. "I need this. Let's go."

About twenty-four hours later, we landed the Strahl in an airfield smack-dab in the middle of the Imperial City of Archades. Coming to the Empire was a lot less scary this time around than it had been before. Landing cleanly in an airfield is a completely different experience than sneaking in with the help of a few shady characters.

After getting off with the ship with suitcases in hand, Balthier summoned a carriage, one far grander than those in Rabanastre. The carriage itself was very roomy, composed of solid iron with plush black velvet seats. The chocobos that pulled it were all equally mammoth with either solid white or black coats of feather, no color deficiencies to speak of. They looked noble, graceful, but all wore the same bored expressions.

Then again, everything in Archades was grander. It was the appearance the past several emperors had been working so hard to maintain. But I had been in the slums, in Old Archades and had seen first hand how harsh that poverty and desolation was in this city. That was one of the things that Larsa, or should I say Emperor Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, was working hard to fix. From his and Basch's letters, I head they were really doing a lot of good for the people of Archadia. I was really proud of him and all he's accomplished since his coronation. I knew personally how real death was, but somehow he managed to put aside his father and brother's deaths and make his country truly great.

Our carriage stopped abruptly in front of a very large building with a least a hundred floors. We got out, grabbed our luggage and approached the front doors.

"Ffamren! It's good you're home!" a man dressed in a stuffy looking gray suit said as we opened the door. "I can get someone to get your bags for you."

"It's Balthier, as I've told you on numerous occasions, I'm sure. And no thanks, we can get them ourselves." Balthier's voice was full of annoyance. I knew he couldn't stand how people treated him because of his family's reputation.

"So you have," the man said, not apologetic in the least. "I will remember next time." He had think black hair down his back and brown eyes. I nearly laughed at him, but held it in. It was as if he was imitating Vayne in every way: style, mannerism, persona. Kind of creepy, actually.

"That is Mr. Vayner," Fran whispered in my ear. Vayner? Oh jeez. "He's the owner of he building and quite likes to schmooze with the bigger names. He didn't own the building when we moved in."

Balthier just kept right on walking to the lift, ignoring Mr. Vayner completely. You couldn't blame him. After knowing the guy about thirty seconds, I truly hoped I'd never see him again.

"Who is your friend?" Vayner called as we got on the lift. "Is she that one skypirate's wife?"

I cringed as the lift doors shut.

I hadn't been gong long enough to determine whether or not I regretted my decision, but when I thought about how Vaan had broken my heart so many times, the vengeful part of me was glad I left. Glad I could leave him and the heartache, broken promises and neglect.

I didn't know if I would end up regretting my decision, but I was determined to remain steadfast in my choice. If he really wanted me, then he'd come find me. But even if he did, I didn't know if I'd actually let myself see him.

Fran and Balthier's apartment was large and meticulously decorated. It had a living room, kitchen, study, and two bedrooms each with their own bathrooms. I put my clothes away and changed my outfit, putting on a modest black dress and matching jacket. After fixing my hair and make-up, I wandered out to the living room to wait for Fran and Balthier. They promised to take me to visit Larsa and Basch today, adding that we were expected when I asked.

From their bedroom, I could hear them talking and laughing joyfully. They were so in love and in tune with each other that it made me hurt all the more.

My heart fell and a single tear ran down my cheek.

Growing up, it had always been Reks that I had a crush on. He was handsome, kind, and three years older than I was. A lethal combination when you're a young girl, one that always results in a full-fledged crush. This was my case. I would tag along with him and Vaan, and not only because Vaan was my best friend. I think he knew, but he never said anything about, just smiled.

And then their parents died, casualties of the war. My parents readily took them it; Reks' and Vaan's parents had been their best friends.

I was fourteen when he enlisted and was killed in battle. I was heartbroken, but as I mourned, I realized that I considered my loss as more as that of losing a brother rather than a lover. And while I watched Vaan cry, I knew whom it was that I really loved. Don't get me wrong, it still hurt most desperately when we lost Reks, but it wasn't quite the same.

My parents died not long after, victims of the plague that had swept Dalmasca. Our country was poor, only the rich could afford the vaccine. It was mandatory that all the young received the vaccine, that's why I'm still here. But my parents couldn't afford it, so I had to watch them slowly waste away when they had once been so radiant and alive.

Vaan and I stared dating just before he snuck into the castle that night, changing our lives forever. We were still as that slightly awkward stage in our relationship, despite having been friends nearly since birth. Dating changed things; we looked at each other differently.

Leaving the one person that had been in my life forever was like leaving your legs behind. It hurt, both physically and mentally.

I felt incredibly guilty for having left yesterday morning, especially after I had just promised Penelo we'd go on a vacation. I knew she'd be mad at me again, but I hoped she's at least be forgiving.

I knew that as a husband, I really let her down. I wasn't home enough, I wasn't there for her when she needed me. I feel terrible about breaking so many promises to her, but I did it anyway, hating myself every time I see her eyes so filled with hurt. I just want to provide for her, to give her the kind of life she's always deserved.

That is why I left yesterday, to bring in money to buy her beautiful clothes and jewelry, to leave her money to decorate our apartment as she wants, and most importantly, to invest in our futures.

After landing the Dancer, I shut everything down quickly and ran the entire way home. I had made over four million gil yesterday transporting a load of weapons that on one else would.

When I opened the front door, I noticed immediately how quiet it was. No, not quiet even. Silent. The only thing I could hear was my heavy breathing from my run.

Something definitely didn't feel right. I felt so...wrong.

On the kitchen table, I saw the note I wrote Penelo, only now it looked like it had been crumbled up and there was more writing on it. I crossed the room and picked it up, reading it quickly.

"Thanks for the memories?" What did that mean?

And then it hit me as to why it was so silent, why it didn't feel right. She left, Penelo left me.

I didn't want to believe it, thinking that there was no way she would leave me. Rushing to the bedroom, I discovered clothes all over the place. Her hairbrush and other toiletries were gone from the bathroom. Lastly, I looked in the closet and found two suitcases missing.

That's when I knew, knew in my heart that she was gone and wasn't coming back.

I dropped to my knees, huge rattling sobs shaking my body as I hugged the crumpled note to my chest.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'll be updating soon with the conclusion of this little story. There will be a small epilogue too. Please review!!

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