Listening to See Me Through by Rascal Flatts. I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I wrote it practically in one sitting with a few breaks. That hasn't happened since the first dozen chapters.
Anyway, hope you enjoy Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing!
Disclaimer: Namco owns Tales of Symphonia.
Chapter 25:
"You want me to do what, exactly?"
A chilled, damp wind rushed over the clearing, throwing a spray up from the river. The droplets speckled Lloyd's left side, but he didn't even seem to notice. Colette shivered slightly, next to him, all too aware of why Lloyd was sitting outside rather than in the warm house.
She pretended to ignore the irritated glance he was giving her. He knew exactly what she wanted from him. She didn't like it when he played these games with her.
"Just go in and talk to Genis."
He regarded her, the corners of his mouth tilted down, unimpressed. She shivered again.
"You should go inside. You're cold," he commented finally, turning his eyes onto the stream as another gentle spray misted over them.
"So are you," she countered. She waited for him to answer, anxious at how distant he seemed to have gotten again over the past three days. Excluding the first day, Lloyd had said little more than five words to his friends. Most of the time he avoided them. "Lloyd, this has gone on long enough—"
"I have nothing to say to him," his reply came curtly.
Colette flinched, then stood and walked in front of him. Another gust of wind whipped around, them. She shivered.
"Don't act like this, Lloyd. Don't you dare act like this." Her voice quivered and she told herself it was the cold. Lloyd averted his gaze and she leaned forward, cautious how much more difficult it was with her protruding belly.
Her hands cupped his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. His russet eyes flickered with hidden hurt and her anger faded. She smiled shakily. "What are you afraid of? He's your friend."
Lloyd didn't respond and Colette leaned to kiss him, but his hands came up quickly, gently securing her wrists as he leaned back. "No, Colette."
A sudden flurry of emotions rushed through her. Eyes stinging, she gripped his face firmly. "I thought you loved me."
There was no hesitation. "I do. You know I do—"
"Then why I can't I kiss you? Why can't they know?" She felt as if she would break down. A sudden fear rushed through her, that perhaps she was deluding herself. That Lloyd didn't truly—
"They wouldn't understand." His hands suddenly held hers and he stood, looking down at her. The movement so swift, she hadn't registered it. Her eyes brimmed and he carefully pulled her into an embrace. She gripped the front of his shirt, his chin resting on her head and the surge of emotions vanished, leaving her empty.
"I don't understand," she whispered quietly, the tightness in her throat rising. It was an ache she couldn't swallow and burned as she struggled to breathe. His arms tightened around her. Strong and comforting. Why couldn't she control herself?
"I know," he whispered back, stroking her hair tenderly. She took a shuddery breath and wondered if he really did either. He was afraid. Afraid of rejection. Afraid that they wouldn't accept him. He lived in his own world where he needed to have control of his life, of his decisions. It wasn't fair that Yggdrasill had stolen that from him. He had stolen Lloyd's ability to trust and believe in what he wanted to do and never to second guess what he felt was right.
"Trust them."
Silence.
"Lloyd you have to trust them. They are your friends." She wanted to look him in the eye, but his arms held her firm against him and she could only grip his shirt tighter. "Why are you afraid of them?"
He let her go this time, his arms falling to his side and she turned her face up. He was staring beyond her, trying to find the answer to her question. It was as if he didn't even know it himself. She lifted her hand, touching his cheek and his eyes flickered back to her. She smiled, holding onto his gaze. "It will be alright."
His darks eyes bore down at her, his face stony and slightly pale. She lowered her hand and laid it on her stomach. His eyes followed it; confliction flashing through his expression, Colette tilted her head to the side, watching him. "What they think doesn't change who you are to me. It won't change who you are to our child either. You are you."
Lloyd didn't move for the longest moment, then his lips parted, barely moving as his deep voice said, "And who am I?" his eyes rose to meet hers, uncertainty and desperation in them.
She smiled softly, the memory of when they stood beside one another on the balcony all those years ago filled her mind. The fear Colette had felt then, not knowing her real identity, not knowing who she truly was, now echoed from Lloyd.
"You are you." The familiar words repeated in her mind as she spoke them. She could hear the young teenage boy's own voice, that once spoke with so much conviction and certainty. "And that is all you will ever be."
"You turn my words on me," he said, but without irritation. She could hear the tremble in his voice.
"Because it is true."
He didn't respond, rather raised his eyes, staring off again. A chilled breeze rushed through and Colette felt the first drops of rain as the sky opened up. Finally, he turned his eyes down to her and they seemed to gleam with a strange urgency as the gentle drizzle fell around them. "Colette, if I talk—"
A loud bark cut him off as Noishe rose in his pen, but didn't leave. Lloyd instinctively stepped back and raised his head, looking behind Colette, a mixture of astonishment and annoyance.
"Lloyd, what's—" she frowned in confusion then turned to follow his gaze only to gape in amazement.
On the foot of the logged bridge, Sheena stood next to Zelos. The Tethe'allan pair stood tense and uncertain, their eyes passing between Lloyd and Colette. They didn't even seem to notice the rain slowly drenching them as they regarded Lloyd with suspicion and reluctance.
Colette turned slowly to face them completely. "Sh-Sheena. Zelos. What are you doing here?"
Their eyes turned to her. The casual and familiar smirk stretched across the redheaded man, raising his hand in a half wave, though his eyes immediately returned to Lloyd. "An old Renegade gave us a lift."
Sheena's face seemed to transform into a relieved and warm smile as she stepped forward to greet Colette. Her mouth opened in greeting, when her eyes flickered down for the briefest moment and her voice paused for an instant, the whites in her eyes showing as they widen and snapped up to Colette's face. Whatever greeting she had planned to say was lost as she blurted out in astonishment.
"Colette! You're pregnant!"
Lloyd was going to have a long discussion with Yuan.
Following Sheena's abrupt shock and exclamation, a series of female centered questions flew from the young woman's mouth. Her face had lit up as she clasped Colette's hands; Sheena's eyes darting from Colette's face to her protruding belly gleamed in excitement and astonishment.
"I can't believe it! How far along are you? When did you find out? How are you feeling?"
Somehow, Colette managed to find answers to the ramble of endless questions spilling from the ninja's mouth and Lloyd turned his focus onto Zelos.
The shock had vanished quickly from the man's face and his eyes immediately rose to meet Lloyd's. Glaring suspicion radiated from him and uncertainty.
Lloyd forced himself not to look away, even when the next question clutched his heart.
"Who's the father?"
Zelos looked towards Colette and Lloyd suddenly realized that Zelos had been the one to ask it, not Sheena.
There was a pause of silence where the slight hiss of the rain around them seemed obstinately loud and accusing.
'Tell them.'
No.
'Tell them.'
He couldn't.
Lloyd's tongue felt like sandpaper in his mouth, his throat dry as he swallowed, his eyes turning to Colette. It was his. The child was his and he desired to lay out his claim to it. To stand beside Colette with his arm around her shoulders protectively and announce, with pride and hidden excitement, his future role.
'Tell them.'
'I am the father.'
He stepped forward, instantly drawing all eyes to him as if they all waited expectantly for his words. His tongue weighed heavily as he spoke. "It's not wise to stand in the rain."
Immediately the tension snapped and Sheena exclaimed her embarrassment at how careless she was keeping Colette out in the rain. She quickly stole Colette's arm and ushered her towards the house, fussing over her. It was an odd behaviour from Sheena, Lloyd thought.
"Smooth, Bud." The words were calloused and accusing and Lloyd turned to meet the stony gaze. Zelos stood slack, his trademark hair now drenched and flattened, but he seemed to care little about that as he scrutinized Lloyd. "You coming in?"
His tone didn't make it a request or an invitation. It was comparable to an outright demand. Lloyd felt the irritable trickle of water running down his neck, like a slithering snake, he thought as he held Zelos' gaze.
"After you."
The crooked smirk appeared instantly and he shrugged, sauntering the way a man does when he cares little for what goes on around him, but is aware. He was waiting to see if Lloyd would stab him in the back no doubt.
It had crossed Lloyd's mind a few times, pay back for a backstabber, and he smirked wirily as he followed the older man inside. He'd save that thought for Yuan.
Both men ducked in through the doorway, shaking the rain from themselves only to have a harsh scolding from Raine about dragging the damp into the house. Zelos immediately plastered the smile on his face and attempted to embrace the irritated half-elf.
Lloyd had lowered his head as he carefully removed his muddied boots and placed them near the door. He heard the slap and injured wail from Zelos' failed attempt. It felt very nostalgic, yet, he didn't smile. A quick glance around told him Colette was upstairs with Sheena.
"Zelos, take your boots off at the door! Presea just cleaned up the place!" Genis snapped annoyed and disgusted with the Tethe'allan's behaviour. Most likely because such behaviour was directed at his sister.
Genis' anger earned him only a ruffling of his hair from the older man and a quick laugh as Zelos dodged a badly aimed punch.
Lloyd sidestepped around the group and walked towards the old stove to stoke it.
It was too crowded in here.
"So, my gorgeous Professor, how is life in the boonies?" Zelos straddled a chair, kicking his boots off towards the door.
Genis seemed to scowl even more as mud splattered on the wooden floor. "Shouldn't you be explaining how you got here and why?"
"All in good time, Twerp, all in good time."
"I haven't missed you at all," Genis muttered.
Lloyd turned to the stove and added more wood.
"As well as it could, I suppose." Raine sighed, ignoring their banter. "The Desians have been more lenient of late. I suppose that is thanks to Colette's supposed death; however-
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Zelos lifted his hands. "The little Angel's death? I was sure I just saw her, not to mention her new load." Making light humour.
Raine looked at him oddly, and then sighed as if she suddenly recalled something exhausting.
Lloyd straightened, closing the stove and leaned against the wall, allowing the warmth to dry his clothes.
"Cruxis was recently alerted that the Chosen was deceased caused by a complication with her retrieval." The words left his mouth before he could stop them and immediately regretted it.
All eyes turned on him. Zelos frowned deeply. "How does that work? Why would they believe something like that?"
Raine rubbed her temple before rising as a shrill whistle of a kettle interrupted. Lloyd remained motionless as she approached the stove. She gave him the briefest of glances before busying herself with making tea. "Cruxis believes it because Lloyd acclaimed to be a witness to the act."
"Is that so?" he asked and Lloyd glanced at Zelos to find the man eyeing him curiously. "Now why would a Cruxis dog do something like that?"
Genis seemed to perk at the obvious tension, glancing inquiringly between the two men. Lloyd supposed he was both curious to Zelos' opinion of him and the answer to the question.
"An excellent question indeed, Zelos," Lloyd responded neutrally.
The man's lips tightened before transforming into a smooth smile and he laughed dryly. "Should have known you wouldn't answer that."
Genis sulked a bit, but glanced at Lloyd reluctantly as if he was uncertain whether he should press for an answer.
'Talk to him.'
No.
"I suppose an eye witness testimony from a loyal dog would be believable, wouldn't it?" Zelos folded his arms over the head of the chair. "I suppose we should be grateful."
"Yes, I think we should." Presea spoke up, her voice soft, but it seemed to make Zelos' mockery flicker. "Colette is able to relax more easily now that she no longer must run for her life. Especially now that she's with child, it's definitely a relief for her."
Raine nodded solemnly, taking a collection of mugs and the tea back to the table, where she filled them. The action seemed to make everyone fall silent, leaving them to consider Presea's words as they each took a mug.
Genis sniffed his experimentally before taking a tentative sip. Lloyd smirked slightly at the action and closed his eyes.
After a moment, Sheena and Colette descended the stairs; the latter dressed in fresh dry clothes, her damp hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. Lloyd watched her as she scanned her friends' faces until she finally turned and spotted him near the stove. Her happy smile made his throat constrict and he glanced away.
"That's much better, Colette. What were you thinking standing out in the rain and cold like that?" Raine offered her chair, ignoring Colette's attempts to decline and sat her down. "Of course, I suppose it's not entirely your fault." Her eyes drifted back to Lloyd and he met them stoically.
"Please, Raine. I'll be more careful next time." She leaned back gratefully into the chair, a tired sigh leaving her. Lloyd wanted to tell her to go back upstairs and rest.
He didn't.
The conversation remained light for the most part. The majority of it danced around the women discussing Colette's pregnancy. Raine was giving obtrusive advice on child caring, which Lloyd deduced was ambiguously based on how the older woman had raised Genis.
"I've read that both music and aloud reading greatly enhances the child's intellect while it's still in the womb."
Genis and Zelos snorted in amusement, while the other girls smiled. "Of course, that's what you would think of, Sis. The kid isn't even born yet and you still are obsessing over its education."
Indignant, Raine folded her arms. "Education is essential in the development of any child."
Sheena shook her head with a laugh. "We know, Raine." She turned to Colette with a smile. "So what are you hoping for?"
Colette tilted her head." Hoping for?"
"I believe my voluptuous hunny means, boy or girl?" Zelos explained, slinging an arm around Sheena loosely. Lloyd noticed she punched him in the side, but the Chosen hadn't removed his arm and neither did Sheena elaborate on it further. Interesting...
"Yes, as the idiot put it. Do you want a boy or a girl?" Sheena's smile returned.
"Oh," Colette said, her eyes slightly surprised. "I hadn't really thought about it yet. I suppose I would be happy with either."
"Oh, come on, Colette." Genis leaned on his arm, grinning. "I bet you want a girl."
A faint pink rose in her cheeks and she played with her fingers as she attempted to give an answer. "I think it would be wonderful to have a daughter. But, a little boy would be wonderful too. I mean both are..."
Lloyd felt excluded from the conversation and wanted to leave. The topic made him uncomfortable, if only for the fact he couldn't take part in it. Yet, he couldn't very well leave without drawing attention to himself.
He attempted to drown out the conversation, thinking instead on the drawing deadline of his visit. Only four more days remained until he needed to report to Yggdrasill. He had yet to visit the Iselia Ranch; however, he had made a number of obvious kills near and around the forest, dragging rather large carcasses to be found later by the Desian scouts. All he needed was to report to Forcystus where most of the monsters had been congregating and have him send patrols to those areas regularly to keep the threat down. They would find the carcasses—most likely half eaten—and back up his report...
"I bet if it was a girl, she would look like you," Sheena commented, the small phrase igniting foreign curiosity in Lloyd. He turned his attention back to them just as Zelos leaned forward with his two-cents.
"Oh definitely! I could easily picture another little angel with your big blue eyes and long blonde hair." He smirked as Sheena gave him a too gentle of an elbow in his side to make him lean back, which he did, though unperturbed. "Yep, yep. Another angel that fell from heaven." His arm still lingered on Sheena's shoulders.
Genis rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Yeah, I could totally see it, if it was a girl, being a mini-you, Colette."
Colette's face seemed to have brightened pink even more, though she smiled warmly. "Y-you don't know that," She stammered, embarrassed.
"Now, if it was a boy. That would be a little harder to picture." Zelos leaned back somewhat and Lloyd stiffened to notice the seriousness behind his fake smile.
Presea looked at him curiously. "Why is that? The child would still have Colette's genes."
"Hmm? Oh yes, yes." He waved his hand, but the smile vanished. "But usually you imagine the son to look like the father, you know what I mean?"
The others fell silence and Lloyd felt the tension building as they waited; their attention on Colette. Lloyd's hand tightened in irritation. Why must they always bring that up?
When Colette didn't answer, Zelos leaned forward. "You never did answer my earlier question, Colette. About who was the father."
"Perhaps that is because it's Colette choice to tell us." Raine spoke up firmly, though Lloyd heard the reluctance in her own voice. She wanted to know just as much, but she wasn't about to corner Colette as they had. "She will tell us if she wants to."
Genis' eyes turned down, staring into his empty mug, hurt and resentment evident on his face. Sheena shared a look of disappointment and uncertain anxiety. Lloyd didn't particularly like the expressions on the remaining three, but only Zelos locked eyes with him.
'Tell them.'
No—not yet.
"Well I, for one, am hoping it's a little girl," Sheena announced into the awkward silence. "I could teach you patterns for little kimonos that would look adorable."
Zelos made a face behind Sheena's back making Colette and Genis laugh, earning the man a—finally—well deserved hit."
"I agree, though." Presea smiled gently, slight hesitation. "A little girl would definitely be sweet."
"Are you kidding? We have too many girls around already." Genis griped, ducking his head as Presea frowned at him, but continued anyway. "It would be awesome to have a boy running around and getting into trouble." His grin was genuine and yet Lloyd felt a twinge of jealousy in the way Genis spoke. As if he would be the one helping the boy to...
"I highly doubt Colette needs anymore stress in her life, much less have a boy 'running around and getting into trouble'," Raine chided her brother, who rolled his eyes at her.
Lloyd started to look away when Presea's voice reached out to him. "What do you think, Lloyd?"
The question came so abruptly that Lloyd could only stare at the young girl blankly. The others had twisted in their seats, curious to his response. Presea had her head tilted, something Lloyd was certain she had learned when regaining her emotions. Most likely from Colette.
"Yeah, Bud. What do you think?" Lloyd was certain no one else caught the uncertain mocking in Zelos' question. At least, that was what Lloyd wanted to believe.
His eyes returned to Presea, then lingering on each face, until they reached Colette where they stopped. She wanted an answer; it was obvious in her eyes. She wanted him to tell her what he honestly thought.
Lloyd closed his eyes, the slight shift in his shoulders emphasizing his blatant words.
"I have no opinion on the matter."
He didn't want to see the disappointment that would show in Colette's eyes.
"I'm checking on Noishe."
So he left.
"Your son is odd."
Kratos slowly lifted his eyes from the computer screen as Yuan stood across the room from him. The half-elf seemed to notice he caught his friend's attention and decided that was an invitation to approach and bother him further.
He sighed.
"What has he done this time?" Kratos lowered his eyes back to the screen, filtering through the files. He really didn't have time to deal with Yuan at the moment and whatever he wanted to discuss about Lloyd, probably wasn't very significant anyway. Yggdrasill was expecting a progress report on the new-targeted Chosen, which was bothersome. In light of Colette's recent death, the family had decided to move to a more protected area, fearing a potential attack from the Desians. Ironically enough. Now Kratos was forced to alert the local ranch that—
"It's not so much as what he's done, but what he hasn't." Yuan's voice cut into Kratos' thoughts and he sighed again, leaning back. Yuan smiled dryly at his irritation.
"I hope this isn't another of your elaborate theories concerning my son's personal life." The reminder nearly made him wince at the awkward memory, concerning the 'bunnies' situation. He most definitely did not want to approach Lloyd in such a topic again. Then again, Kratos supposed he wouldn't have to. Perhaps there had been some truth behind Yuan's exaggerated theories, he thought with a smirk.
"All I ever have to work with are theories." Yuan leaned against the computer stand, obviously in Kratos' line of sight.
"Then tell me and be done with it. Unlike you, I'm a little preoccupied." Kratos gave his friend a withering glance.
"She's alive isn't she?"
Kratos didn't even flinch. "Who? I thought we were discussing my son."
Yuan frowned, his brow knotting together in plain irritation. "Don't you dare play games with me, Kratos. I knew he got that trait from you."
He sighed for a third time.
"Honestly, Yuan, if you cannot get to the point of this interruption then—"
"Is the Chosen alive or not?"
He did ask for bluntness. "I think it would be obvious that she isn't, otherwise why am I bothering with this report?"
"Don't mock me. We all know that paperwork is the easiest way to lie. Lloyd did it all the time." Yuan folded his arms. "What has he told you?"
"He doesn't talk to me, Yuan." Kratos turned his attention back to the computer screen, his fingers tapping the keys periodically as he filtered through the necessities. "In fact," he started, not looking up. "I believe he has had more conversations with you than me in the last few months."
There was a long pause, until Yuan grabbed Kratos' shoulder, turning him in the chair to face him. "She is, isn't she?"
"My responsibility concerning the Chosen, Colette Brunel, is long over. If you want information involving her, ask Lloyd and read his report."
"Damn you, Aurions." Yuan scowled and pulled back. Kratos regarded him quietly, knowing he wasn't finished. Yuan glanced at him irritably. "I will find out. Sooner or later."
"Undoubtedly."
"He definitely gets it from you." Yuan shook his head, a thin smirk slipping through his annoyance.
Kratos lifted his shoulders slightly. "I suppose that eases my worries that he learned it from you."
"Mind your tongue, Kratos." Yuan smirked. "Your son's intellect is thanks to me. You should be more appreciative."
"If I recall correctly, Lloyd advanced much quicker under my supervision than he did with you." He couldn't resist, the half-elf's ego was too high.
Yuan scoffed, but let it drop. "Think what you like. Regardless, I will find out what your son is up to."
"I'm sure you will. Now, are you finished?"
"For now." It was a promise and he strode stiffly from the room.
Prying half-elf, Kratos cursed inwardly, rubbing his face. He'd have to warn Lloyd that Yuan would be snooping around. Fate would have it that Yuan would interfere with Lloyd's affair and hold it against him. However, Yuan wouldn't interfere—he hoped—for another few days. He wasn't that bold to search out Lloyd while he was on a mission. As impatience as Yuan was, the half-elf somehow had patience. What a paradoxical man.
He sighed for a fourth time.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
"But I'm—"
"Don't, Colette," Lloyd repeated firm, his eyes closed.
There was a brief silence and the soft rustle of footsteps crossing the straw of Noishe's pen. The protozoan whined happily to have another visitor, his tail thumping against Lloyd's leg.
"I will tell them. If that's what you want, I can—"
Lloyd's eyes opened slowly and he lifted his hand to her mouth, a single finger pressed against her lips. The light, grey cloak she wore was speckled with raindrops, the tip of her noise slightly damp and the strands of hair showing through her hood were moist. She still seemed to glow.
Lloyd removed his finger and shifted the large protozoan's head to make room for her beside him. Noishe snuffed indignantly, but satisfied his revenge by laying his head on Lloyd's lap instead.
Colette sat slowly, her awkward descent to the floor made Lloyd wish he had moved one of the crates from the corners for her. Still she made it, her hand resting on her belly tenderly and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
They sat there quietly, the patter of rain on the roof above rhythmic as well as Noishe's deep whoofs as he dozed.
"What do you want it to be?"
In a way, Lloyd knew the question coming. Eventually, Colette would want to know his opinion on the matter. The guessing game. What is your child's gender? A fifty percent chance.
"A boy or a girl?" She emphasized as if he hadn't understood her the first time.
Boy or girl? What was the real point of this question? Whatever his answer was, it wouldn't change the outcome. He said as much.
Colette tilted her head to look up at him, a small frown tugging the corners of her mouth. "Because I want to know."
He hesitated, pondering her answer. She wanted to know. Why? To him it didn't make sense. The child would be either a son or a daughter, whichever it was he would—
"It's a simple question, Lloyd."
"It's an irrelevant one. What you're asking doesn't make sense."
She seemed amused by that and sat up, turning slightly to face him. "Why is that?" She pushed back the hood, a small smile on her face.
Lloyd hesitated, wondering if he was approaching the question wrong, but quickly decided he wasn't. "As I said before. Whatever I say won't change the gender of the child. It will be what it will be."
"So?"
He frowned at her. "What do you mean, 'so'?"
"If your answer won't affect the child's gender, then what's wrong with telling me?" she tucked her hair behind her ear only to have it fall loose. Lloyd reached over and tucked it back again.
"So, boy or girl?" she asked again.
He didn't know. "I don't know."
"Yes, you do." Colette pressed, reassuringly.
Lloyd furrowed his brow, frustrated. "I would be happy with either."
Colette huffed, her cheeks brightening and she shifted again, grabbing his hand. "Lloyd, okay. What would you do if you had a son?"
He felt awkward, the realization of who he soon would be was rising up again and he ultimately wished to drop the conversation. Somehow, though, Lloyd knew he wasn't escaping this one.
"I would most likely teach the boy swordsmanship when he was old enough," he answered hesitantly.
Colette nodded a small smile on her face. "Okay and if it was a girl."
Lloyd looked at her oddly. "I would teach her as well."
The both looked at each other for a moment before Colette released an exasperated sigh. "Lloyd, what else would you teach her?"
Why wasn't that satisfactory? He pondered for a while longer. "Perhaps carving, if she were interested, or metalwork." Colette stared at him for the longest time and he gave a slight glare. "What? I am answering your questions."
She started laughing, covering her mouth with hand. "Oh, Lloyd."
He didn't understand what she found amusing. However, he was glad all the same that she smiled. "Why would I treat the child differently if it was a boy or a girl?"
Colette tilted her head to the side, a bright smile lighting up her face. "I suppose you wouldn't."
Lloyd refrained from asking why she had insisted on him answering these questions if that was the case, when she suddenly took his hand firmly. "Lloyd?"
"Yes?"
"You will make a great father."
The words were simple and plain, she said them so easily and without hesitation. Lloyd couldn't find his voice, so he didn't try to answer.
Colette didn't seem to expect one. It was just something she had pointed out. Like a statistic or fact.
He would make a great father.
Would he?
Colette shifted back to her previous position, curling up next to him; head on his shoulder and they listened to the rain. Lloyd didn't keep track of the time.
Eventually he said, "They will be wondering where you are."
"They know where I am."
Pause.
"I can't tell them. Not yet."
"I know."
Pause.
"I think Zelos is suspicious. I think he has figured it out."
"Are you worried he will tell the others?"
Lloyd hesitated on that, then shook his head. "No. Zelos only confronts someone if he knows he is certain. He will not say anything unless we confirm it." She didn't ask how he could know that.
"What about Raine and Presea?" she asked after a moment. "I think Raine might be figuring it out too. She doesn't believe I would have..."
"Raine is similar to Zelos, though less predictable. If she knows, she will confront us privately." He paused again. "You think Presea knows?"
"I don't know. But, the way she asked you that question today...I think she might, but she won't tell either. She understands how I feel about this." She found his hand, slipping her fingers through his and twisted her head to look up at him. "It's because of Genis, isn't it?"
"It always returns to him, Colette," Lloyd admitted quietly.
"Because he is your friend."
'Was' he wanted to say, but didn't for her sake—or perhaps his. "Genis would feel betrayed further if I admitted to being the child's father." He turned to look down at her. "Consider it from Genis' eyes for a moment, Colette."
"What do you mean?"
"When we were young, it was the three of us and only us. Then I vanished and abandoned him," She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. "When I returned, it was like I betrayed him again and he turned to you. You defend me, which frightens him more. He feels left behind Colette, as if the world has moved on around him and we left him with nothing but memories. Then you returned. If I come and take that from him too, he'll—"
"You aren't taking me. I'll still be here!"
"He won't see it like that, Colette." Lloyd shook his head. "We are adults, he is bordering being a teenage and becoming a man. To see you as a mother and a...wife and me as the father and husband and seeing our child...Genis would feel as if he no longer has a place next to you."
Colette lifted her head up, her eyes shining, her mouth set firm. "Then you will go in there, right now, and explain to him that that will not happen."
"Colette—"
"You will talk to your best friend, Lloyd Aurion!" She narrowed her eyes, pointing back at the house, having risen to her feet.
He stared at her, his own eyes narrowed, but then he sighed. "Colette—"
"Now."
"Will you—"
"Now, Lloyd." Firm and final.
Lloyd gave her a long look, but she just folded her arms, her frown deepening as she looked down at him.
He sighed again.
"Fine."
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