Hi everyone. Here is chapter 14 which continues on from the chapter 13. When we left them Zidane and Garnet were in each other's arms having seemingly buring the hatchet. What will happen now. Read on to find out! Please forgive any spelling or grammar mistakes; I know I keep making them (sorry). Please enjoy

Zidane and Garnet finally pulled apart from their passionate kiss. They rested their heads together, both in an affectionate manner. Zidane lifted his head upwards and Garnet laid hers on his shoulder. Zidane stroked the back of her head and ran his fingers through soft hair. He noticed it didn't feel warm like it usually did, a definite sign that Garnet was still freezing.

"Let's get you inside, your freezing I can tell," said Zidane in a kind tone.

"Okay," she replied quietly.

"Come one, I'll take you back to the inn," said Zidane taking her by the hand. But as they began to walk a thought occurred to Garnet.

"Where are you staying?" she asked.

"I was given my own hut a few days ago," he replied. "The kind mages built one for me when I told them I was going to stay in the village. They set to work and built it for me one afternoon, bless them. They're so friendly and helpful that they didn't even want me to help them build it but I insisted. It's not very big but its cosy enough for me."

"Please, will you stay with me tonight?" Garnet pleaded. "I don't want to be away from you. I've spent enough nights lying awake wishing you were there with me; please don't make me go through another."

Zidane halted and turned to look at her in the eyes. He could see how desperate she was, she truly didn't want to part with him at any cost.

"I would Dagger but the inn is packed with everybody else so there surely won't be enough room? It only has about half a dozen beds so I'm sorry for there not being much room. I would have let some of the others use whatever spare beds were available in the village huts but despite their kindness I know the black mages would feel very uncomfortable sharing their homes with strangers and I couldn't do that. The same for the genomes. What are the sleeping arrangements at the inn?"

Baku, Cinna, Marcus, Blank, Sir Fratley and Steiner are all sleeping on the floor," she replied. "Freya, Beatrix and Amarant all have beds and the Vivi's have all squeezed into two beds between them. I'm supposed to be sharing with Eiko."

"Well I'm afraid that settles it Dagger," said Zidane in resignation. "The inn is fit to burst as it is, there's no room for me to stay there tonight as well."

"Well please; can I stay in your hut with you?" Garnet pleaded. "Honestly Zidane, I don't care if we stay in a cave, just as long as I'm with you I'll be happy."

Zidane considered this. Could he really spend the night with her? He had wanted this for so long and now Dagger obviously wanted it too. But what would the reaction be if they did? Despite their love, Dagger was a still a queen and he was still a lowly thief. What would their friends say when they found out in the morning? Steiner would blow his lid that was for sure. Eiko would be insanely jealous and angry. The guys from Tantalus would probably start passing cheeky comments. But they all knew how deep their love for each other ran. In fact, his main concern should be whether or not they'd forgive him for his outburst earlier. Dagger had forgiven him but would they? He remembered the look of disappointment in the Boss' eyes as he shouted at him. He'd have a lot of grovelling to do to get them to forgive him. Zidane realised he hadn't yet answered her question and she was still waiting for his reply to her request.

"Garnet, are you sure you know about what you're asking for?" he asked. She was effectively asking for their relationship to go a level it had never been anywhere near before until just a few moments ago.

Garnet stepped towards him and placed her face very close to his.

"Yes I do," she replied quietly. "Please, let me stay with you. I don't ever want spend another moment away from you, especially if I know you're so close."

Zidane nodded and took her by the hand again.

"Okay, let's go." They set off walking again only this time he lead head back in the direction of his hut.

Skip forward to the morning. Back at the inn.

Eiko awoke from her slumber and rubbed her eyes. The bed she'd slept in had turned out to be very comfortable and spacious. She sat up and looked to her left and expected to see the sleeping form of Garnet lying next to her. But she saw nothing but sheets. She thought and realised that she didn't ever remember Garnet coming to bed. Then where was she? She leapt out of bed and ran out (still in her little nightie) into the inn reception where most of the others had spent the night. She saw that almost everybody else was already awake or just waking up. The Tantalus guys where all sitting up from amongst the blankets which had been spread across the floor. She could see through an open door Sir Fratley talking with Freya in her room. Steiner was stood in the corner in quiet conversation with Beatrix. Eiko rushed over.

"Hey, have either of you guys seen Garnet this morning?" she asked.

"No," replied Steiner. "Isn't Her Majesty still resting inside the room you both shared?"

"No she's not there," said Eiko. "And I don't ever remember her coming to bed. Where is she?"

"You mean Her Majesty is missing?" said Steiner starting to panic. "Oh no, what if something has happened to her! We must find and rescue her at once!"

"No Steiner, wherever Her Majesty is she will be fine I'm sure," said Beatrix cooly.

"How can you possibly know that?" he said in that panicking tone again and jumping up and down (just like he does in the games when he's flustered).

"Because, last night when everybody went to bed, Her Majesty…. left the inn. She left the inn to go… and… see… Master Zidane. She wanted to talk to him alone and ordered me to stay here. I asked her to stay here but she had already made up her mind. She will surely be with him now and he is more than capable of protecting her."

Meanwhile across the village in a small hut….

As the sun began to shine through the windows the light illuminated two bodies who both lay in each other's arms on a small bed. They had fallen asleep embracing one another and their faces were so close their noses were almost touching. Slowly the lady began to wake up and stir. She lifted her head slightly and looked at the face of her lover laying next to her. She smiled, kissed him softly on the lips and then laid her head down again to go back to asleep.

Awwwwwwwwwwwww. Another nice little chapter where Garnet and Zidane finally 'seal their relationship' shall we say. The upcoming chapters will return to the seriousness again and some real twists and turns will happen. Please review and let me know what you think of how this story is going, I haven't had review for a few chapters now (might be because I've forgot to ask for any). I really value your opinions and will try to implement any suggestions as best as I can. Thanks for reading and until the next chapter, see ya!