Title: After the Sun Shined

Pairing: Emarta

Rating: K

Disclaimer: The Tales series and all the characters belong to Namco.

Author's Notes: I've been busy, but I'll always be uploading…so to all of you, who've been sticking with the story, thank you! It means a lot to me, and I love writing for you all. Merci beaucoup!

This chapter is dedicated to my friend Kevin, who passed away in a car accident while driving in the rain. He was so fun-loving and nice, and he devoted his time to donating his love to others and saving lives. His courage turned other's dreams into reality.

-START-

Emil stood in the doorway of his home in Luin, fingers pressed lightly against the door frame. He would push the door in a few inches, than pull his hand back. Marta clung to his side, watching the boy nervously. "Well…are you going to go inside?" He nodded, his frown turning into a grimace. He palmed the knob and the door swung open before him. The room before him was empty and dark with ugly, grass-colored curtains drawn over the windows. Emil stepped inside cautiously with his head swinging from side to side, as if he was searching for something. When he spied the door to his old bedroom, memories rushed back to him.

"A-Aunt Flora…" the male's voice rang, causing a few flies that'd make their home on the windowsill to buzz about the room in surprise. Castagnier shuddered and batted them away, his light footsteps creaking the more he advanced. He didn't know why, but he felt like drawing his sword.
"Uncle Alba, Aunt Flora? My friend told me you wanted to see me…"

He knew his best friend was beside him, so, why did he feel so alone?

"Hey, Emil?" Mara asked in her cool voice, showing her love that she wasn't at all fazed by the situation. As he turned his head to speak with her, she intertwined their fingers and kissed his cheek. "You'll be okay. I'm right here with you, so don't worry!" She lifted her chin up high and marched over to the door. It opened with ease and the brown-haired girl vanished inside. As he heard her voice start to converse with another, he reached out his hand and tried to follow.
"Hey, Marta, wait! Marta, I'll speak with them." He ran towards the door peered inside.

The only light can from the sheer curtains that masked the windows. Marta's voice had stopped moments before his entrance. "Marta?"

A hand reached out from the blackness and removed the curtains from their position on the bland, wooden wall. The sun's delicate, yellow rays washed over the small room and details belonging to the figures in front of him emerged. Out of the corner came Uncle Alba and, sitting on the bed, Aunt Flora. Marta found herself sitting on the floor, holding Flora's hand tenderly. "You two," Emil asked in an astonished tone that caused his aunt to shake. "You shouldn't be sitting in the dark…" he added, slowly stepping back.

"Marta, what's going on?"

"Aunt Flora hasn't been very well," Alba interrupted. "What, did you come here to rub it in my face, brat?"

Emil jumped at the harshness in his voice and clutched his chest. He felt his shoe catch on a nail and send him toppling back. He barely managed to catch himself, but Marta and let go if the woman's paper-like hand and grabbed his shoulders. "Emil!"

"I'm fine…" he said, standing. Marta stayed on the floor, her blue eyes watching him carefully. "And no, Uncle Alba, I didn't." The blonde teenager stood proudly and charged to the wall where his uncle stood. The older man cringed as Emil approached him.

"Well, what the hell is it?"

"…"

"Well!" he yelled, slapping Emil across the cheek. Lualdi flew up into the air and caught the man's hand afterwards. "How could you!"

"N-No, don't worry about it. Uncle Alba," he repeated, holding a hand to his inflamed cheek. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I came back…but you said that maybe we could start over. Didn't…didn't you want to apologize to me?" Emil pressed his hands together feverously, rubbing them unconsciously as he spoke in his hushed, slightly worried tone.

Alba stared at him and scoffed, whipping his head away. "…yeah, I did…"

"So, why!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms in an obvious sign of perplexity. "Why are you being like this! I'm here to help you, and if Aunt Flora is sick, I want to help. Please," Emil said looking to Marta for a signal of agreement. She nodded and stood bravely against the imposing man.

"…Alright, but if we help, you have to listen to what Emil has to say!"

"Marta!" he said, seizing her shoulders and pulling her back against his body.

"Emil, c'mon!" she yelled, spreading her arms out. She rocked back on her heels and planted a firm hand on her hip in subtle defiance. "Don't you remember what they did to you? Are you ready to just throw that all away when it's convenient for them? What about you and your feelings," she interrogated, pointing an incriminating finger at his chest. His face turned red and he snatched her hand.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I can just abandon them. Even though they might have hated me, they still took care of me!"

Alba winced at those words, as if they'd changed into a blade and sliced through his icy, concrete heart. He turned to his blonde nephew in surprise, eyes wide in shock.

Marta smirked at the reaction. She twirled around and stared at the two adults again, taking in their bewildered reactions. She then cast her cerulean-colored eyes off to the side and glanced over her petite shoulder. "Is that…really how you feel, Emil?"

"Of course…"
He gripped a fist and kneeled down before his aunt. As he examined her pulse and skin for any abnormalities or symptoms, his emerald eyes remained downcast and glossy. Flora stared at the gentle smile on his visage and instantly felt a terrible pang of guilt. "They're the only family I have Marta…I love them."

Marta turned, staring at the sight with pure admiration. Memories with her father when she was younger flashed through her mind as she observed her lover tend to his aunt. Her gaze grew cloudy and, as she giggled in glee, a small tear rolled down her face.

"Yes. You go, Emil!"

"I'll wait outside for you guys," Lualdi said, taking tiny steps towards the front door. She closed the door softly, like the inn was made from brittle tissue, ready to come crashing down at any second. Emil didn't notice the girl leave and focused solely on his own aunt. Flora, who was highly surprised by his acts of kindness, stayed still as a statue while he examined her. He took another look at her face and skin once more, then fondled for something in his pocket.
"Aunt Flora…I think you have a cold," Emil said softly, hands searching for the medicine in his pocket. "It's nothing too serious, thank goodness…but make sure to take care of yourself." He handed her a few small, round pills and went to retrieve a glass from the kitchen cabinet. He swung open the rickety door and brushed cobwebs away from the china before grabbing the most basic glass. He rubbed it clean with his cloak and filled it up with a bottled drink they'd probably bought from the general store. Alba stayed pressed against the wall, watching the acts with widened eyes. Flora stood and wobbled on her knees. She went to help her nephew, who'd insisted she stay in bed.

"…Emil," Alba questioned as he pulled the covers over Flora's limp body. "Is that true…that you still care for us? Even after we convinced others you were working with the Vanguard…and that you were the one luring monsters to the lakebed…you still…"

Castagnier didn't respond immediately. He seemed to think about it before making any attempt to answer. "I'm willing to go back and try again, even if you aren't."

"…"

Emil lowered his head and went outside to leave. As he stepped outside, his foot halted in the middle of the doorway. "So…you didn't want to talk to me after all?"

"…"

"Well, I'm still happy I came," he said, voice becoming fuzzy. The last time he'd came to Luin with Tenebrae, before he had accepted the fact he would be sealed away, he'd cried shortly after the encounter. Now, he felt the same way.

"E-Emil, wait," he hollered, running to the doorway and grabbing his shoulder. He pulled the boy back inside and closed the door.

"Uncle Alba?" Castagnier asked, shaken. "W-what is it?"

"…I wanted to say thank you. Please, you and Marta spend the night here," he said, glancing outside at the gathering clouds and the brief flashes that indicated some form of lightening. "I mean, it looks like there's a storm, and you said you wanted to start over, so…" he said, nervously stroking his mustache. "I-I guess I can make an exception, just for a night."

Emil blinked and felt his eyes water again. Instead of walking out the door, he flung himself into his uncle's arms. "Thank you!" he cried cheerfully, glad he'd at least gotten a fraction of his family back. Alba blushed and grimaced, about to push him away. However, at the last second, he stopped. He looked down on the head of gold hair pressed against his chest and sighed. He encircled his arms around Emil's waist and let himself grin.

"W-Well…you're welcome. A-Aunt Flora wants to say something to you…so don't forget to talk to her…in the morning…"

"I won't," Emil said, sprinting outside to get Marta, who'd been standing in the middle of the road just as the rain had started to fall. When she saw small, dark circles on the pavement below her feet, she raised her hands in panic to cover her hair. Castagnier grabbed her and pulled her into the downstairs inn. They got inside and closed the door just as a loud, booming sound nearly destroyed their eardrums. "Emil, what are we going to do! We can't go home in this…" Marta cried, wringing water out of her light brown locks. She twisted them in her fist until small puddles formed below her. Emil agreed and patted her on the head.

"Uncle Alba and Aunt Flora are letting us stay here tonight," he said, walking up to the receptionist. When she saw his face, she slammed down her book and glowed with humiliation. "E-Emil Castagnier?"

"Uh, hello, can we please…?"

She seemed to be embarrassed by his presence. She rubbed her hands together to try and filter her nervousness away from her voice. "Oh, sure, but you don't have to pay. After saying all those mean things to you, please have the room for free."

Both teens looked at each other skeptically, but as the cold rain began to make them shiver, they quickly agreed. "Well, if that's okay…" he said slowly, looking at her unsurely.

"Yes! And I heard what Alba said upstairs…please, to your right," she said as she motioned to a room right next to the desk. "It's unlocked and the key is inside…please, rest well okay?"

When Marta learned of the room, she didn't wait for permission before she rushed inside and threw herself under the covers. Emil smiled and was about to follow when the girl turned around and went back to reading. Carefully, when she reached back to finish their paperwork, he slipped 100,000 Gald under the bell.

"Everyone's been so nice, they deserve something…" he though silently before opening the door and walking inside. He's expected to still see Marta under the covers, but the messed up sheets were completely devoid of her. He lifted a brow and bent over the bed, looking left and right for the petite woman. "Hey, Marta?"

She jumped on him from behind and pushed him on the bed. "Gotcha!" Emil yelped in surprise, and then laughed. At first, it was just a girlish giggle, but then he was clutching his aching sides and rolling over to avoid eye contact with the confused and bewildered princess. "Huh, what's so funny!"

"Nothing…" he said, blushing slightly. "I was just thinking…even after all this time, you haven't changed at all…"

"Oh?"

"Yeah, and that's not a bad thing. I mean, I've changed a lot…I'm a lot braver and I have more courage…" Emil said, pulling Marta on top of him and into a hug. "It's all thanks to you, Marta. Thanks for making me your knight." She blushed and nodded.

"Yes, that's true, but you're still Emil. No matter what, I'll always love you!"

"…Yeah," he said slowly, staring up at her. She rested there and folded her hands over his chest, gazing longingly at him. "I'll always love you too, Marta."

"…you said those exact words when you were sealing the door in the Ginnugagapp."

"I did?" he asked, lifting some fingers to his lips and tracing them down his jawbone in thought. "Oh yeah. Well, they're true, so I guess its okay." Marta turned fuchsia and sat straight up, her legs spread over Emil's chest.

Blushing wildly, she chirped in a voice that mimicked jungle bells, "Wow, Emil! That's so romantic!" She flew back on top of him and started unraveling his scarf madly. "Oh, Emil, I love you!" Emil stuttered stupidly as he attempted to hold his clothes down on his body.

"M-Marta, are you serious!"

"Yes," she said. "Of course I am! How can I resist you when you've just done something so sweet, chivalrous, and adorable!"

"I wouldn't call in any of those," he stated bluntly. "H-How about we just go to bed and get some sleep?"

"What! Aw…okay…" she said sadly, stepping off of him and drooping on the floor. He saw her depression and sighed deeply.

"…would you like me to help you get undressed?" he asked, hoping that would suffice for a night. Seconds later, he was pounded into the bed, Marta's dress almost being ripped to shreds and, oddly enough, not by him.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Both teens approached Alba and Flora's domicile on the top floor right after Tenebrae had materialized by their bedside and stated (rather coolly despite the awkward looking arrangement in the bed) that Lloyd and the others were coming to pick them both up and take them back to Altamira for a night out at the casino. They quickly rushed to put on their clothes and raced to the top of the stairs. They'd been knocking on the door for five minutes, but neither adult had answered.

"I guess neither of them is home," Lualdi said solemnly. "Maybe they're both still sleep." Emil figured she was right and took his girlfriend's hand to escort her down the stairs.

"I guess I'll come back another time to hear what they have to say…I wouldn't want to bother them, after all." They reached the bottom and approached the town's entrance and waited for their companions on the wooden bridge. When shadows resembling large birds appeared in the distance, Marta perked up and waved them down before they flew over the city.

"Do you want to try one more time," she asked him over her shoulder. He shook his head, staring at the ground with his mint-colored eyes.

"No, I'm ready. Let's go meet Lloyd and the others…" he said looking at Tenebrae who, for the most spiteful Centurion in the world, was oddly calm. "Hey, Tenebrae. You've been awfully quiet. Is something bothering you?" he asked, a little puzzled by the spirit's silent demeanor.

"Oh, no. Nothing at all," he said, eyes closed and head pointed towards the sky. "I'm just trying to get that picture out of my mind. You know, from this morning," he said almost gagging. Emil turned a dusty rose color and Marta, who'd barely heard the sentence anyway, felt like she needed to question him further.

"Tenebrae, you've be alive forever! That can't be the first time you've—"

"Alright!" Emil yelled, hushing them before everyone in town heard them. He finished his plea right as the Rheairds landed a few feet from the bridge. Castagnier watched as Lualdi scampered towards Sheena's, who'd forced Zelos to ride by himself in fear he'd try something perverted while she was trying to pilot the aircraft. Castagnier made his way over to the Chosen of Tethe'alla when he heard a door slam. He turned and saw his aunt running towards him, lifting her skirts above the flowers and grass. She stumbled a few times, but made it over to him. Her breathing was choppy, but there was a glow on her face Emil didn't think he'd ever seen before.

"E-Emil," she said, gasping. The blonde teen hurried over to her and grabbed her hand. "Aunt Flora…"

"Please take this," she said, raising a weak, withered arm and putting something cold and round in his palm. He looked down and saw a glint of gold and diamond.
"A ring…?" Emil asked slowly.

"It was…your mother's…" she said coughing.

"…My mother…" he said, trying to recall the make believe memories he'd been given. "Oh…but, I don't understand…"

"You have our blessing. Use it…and make yourself happy. We're…sorry for all those years of misery. We received the ring from…a friend who found Lana and Reysol's bodies after the massacre. Please, just take it."

"…Is this alright? They weren't my parents…but I…" he thought, his conscience ripping at him. After a few moments of musing, he clenched his fist and smiled. "Aunt Flora…thank you. I love you both," he added, kissing her on the cheek. "Can…I come back to see you both?"

Flustered, the redhead raised a hand to her cheek and bobbed her head stupidly. "Y-Yes, anytime you want…and that young lady can come too."

He chuckled and ran towards the craft, the wind from their propellers blowing his hair and outfit. He mounted himself behind Zelos and fastened his hands over the Chosen's waist. As Flora waved him goodbye, he saw Alba peek out from behind the inn door and smile slightly. Castagnier's breath hitched at the sight and he laughed, raising his tone arm to wave back at his loving family.

"Thank you! Thank you…so much! I love you both!"

Seconds later, they blasted off into the ocean with an inky cloud of blackness following behind.

-END-

Here you are guys! I hoped you really liked it…because writing it gave me great joy.

For those of you who read this chapter, thank you for sticking with it. Needless to say, it took me a while to finish, but I'm proud of it!

R&R, and thank you eternally for your gratitude!

Emil: Yeah, we owe you guys!

Marta: Thanks to you, there's going to be even more romance between me and Emil! Pretty soon, we'll have to start thinking about pregnancy and children, and a house and a wedding and…

Emil: Wait, huh!