Author's Notes: Here's another chapter, only one more to go after this. I think I figured out how to end this, I hope you guys like the ending I chose. Enjoy Chapter 14.

Chapter 14

Several weeks passed after Celes and Setzer made their pact. After that day, they both seemed to understand one another perfectly, for now they were rarely found apart from one another. Celes still acted as she usually did towards the others, but in private she lowered her defenses with the gambler. She knew this was a gamble, but was willing to take the risk. She hadn't felt this way…since she was with Locke.

The other Returners paid no mind to the sudden change in Celes company. They cared not to try and understand the ex-general any more. It took far too much effort, and they had more important things to do; like destroy the new world order that was Kefka.

Celes spent her nights in Setzer's chambers learning the various card games and casino tricks the gambler could only know from years at his trade. The blond found them interesting, and absorbed the information with vigor. She examined every turn and hand she drew, not taking these games with luck or fate, but strategy. It was one of these hands that led the two into an interesting conversation one night.

"Do you think you've got this hand won Miss Chere?" Setzer teased. He had taken to calling her 'Miss Chere' when they played. It was now a pet name for him, not an insult as it was previously. Celes face stayed stern.

"Perhaps. What do you think Mr. Gabbiani? Are you willing to fold and see?"

"Hm…" Setzer acted as if he were seriously thinking of her proposition. "I think I would rather see your hand Miss Chere, throw them down."

Celes scoffed. She obeyed and laid her hand on the table. Setzer's eyes gleamed.

"A strait, not bad. But it can't beat a royal flush my dear." He placed his hand on the table. Celes groaned.

"Damn, not again. I never lose in such trivial things, why am I losing now."

"Now now don't say something you can't take back. These things are not trivial at all. Don't insult my profession in such a way Miss Chere."

"Whatever. Fine, it isn't trivial. I don't care what you want to call these games, either way I keep on losing and its pissing me off."

"I have a theory on why you persist in losing. Would you like to hear it?"

"I'm all ears. I'll hear anything if it'll help me beat you in a game of cards."

"Very well, but I'm positive you won't like it."

"I don't care just tell me." She grew impatient. Setzer smirked.

"Alright then. I do believe you aren't winning, because you don't believe in luck or fate."

"Dear god." she rolled her eyes a bit too noticeably. Setzer chuckled.

"You said you'd hear my theory. I'm almost positive that your lack of Lady Luck and faith are what make you lose these hands. After all, poker, blackjack and virtually every gambling game is based on chance. Now how can someone win any of those games without luck on their side."

"Luck has nothing to do with life, neither does fate. It never helps your life choices, nor does it ever help those who believe in it. Has it ever helped you?"

"Yes."

"Oh please." The young woman exhaled frustrated. "Fine then gambler, tell me when it helped you."

"When a dying world took my wings and I was wandering the earth lost for three years, a young woman came into the pub I vacated in Kolingen and spoke to me, giving me the faith to persevere and bring the world back to its former glory. She gave me the fighting spirit that I thought I had lost when I lost my wings, she gave me the spirit to live again. And that my dear, was no type of strategy or tactic I had planned out. It was no planned tactic to ensure that I would meet her, no. It was luck and fate that led her to me. And it was luck and fate that made her sit across from me today."

Celes was breathless. She had never heard such words from anyone before. She had never heard anyone speak as if she were some bekon of hope, some angel sent from the heavens. She was only called a butcher, imperial bitch, but now…now she was being called a savior of sorts.

The color in her cheeks slowly turned crimson. The room was silent for a long while as the two soaked in the moment. Setzer swallowed hard, composing himself for what he was about to say.

"You still give me that hope you know. You are the only one that shows strength without fear of what is yet to come. You are the only one that doesn't feel strapped down by others, that can stand on her own two feet without the help of anyone else. That impresses me Celes. Even in this dying world, you still stand alone."

"I don't know if that's a gift or a curse, it hasn't done much for me lately."

"Yes it has. It's kept you focused on the primary goal at hand. I admire you for that. I also admire you for your determination, intellect, and independence. I've admired you for that since the day I stole you from that opera, Maria." He smiled jokingly. She returned the smile.

"Maria doesn't suit me. I'm not an opera twit you know."

"I know. You are far superior to Maria."

Celes leaned back in her chair. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, her thoughts swimming with the silver haired man's words. She closed her eyes for a few moments, and then opened them again. Setzer had been staring at her.

"Yes…" she asked.

"Is it a crime to watch a beauty ponder?"

"How do you know I'm pondering something."

"I know when you get like this your thinking. It always interests me when you're like this you know."

"Whatever." She replied flatly. "I'm leaving. Goodbye."

"Leave your hand, I want my full deck. For solitaire."

"Oh my, like I would steal a handful of your cards. Goodness, men."

Celes pushed her chair out and walked towards the door. She reached it, glanced back at the young man, then left the room.

Setzer leaned back in his chair, reclining to place his feet on the table. A sly smirk crossed his lips.

"I've got her. I can tell," he shuffled his deck of cards swiftly.

"She loves me, it's written all over her face. Looks like someone owes me some gold."