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Hi! Thank you to Relm and EdenXIII for your reviews - EdenXIII, you'll get your fair share of heated arguments today!

Since I promised MurpheytheProphet I'd start doing this; here we go: this prompt is connected (kinda) with Over, Fire, Knowledge, Crash, and especially Temptation and Need. Think of them as being in the same head-cannon, but it's nothing stringent.

Enjoy!

084. The Morning After

The rocky ground was the only thing that woke Edge up.

He'd been dreaming, deeply. Of the times when he'd chase his older sisters around the castle kitchens. Alice was always the one who was good at baking; she was the one who made the kitchens smell of cinnamon at Christmas and fruity berries with fresh cream in the summer. And Elena, well, she just hovered around her older sister. Bothered her, helped her, kept her company. Filled all their days with laughter. With their twin lilac hair, they were inseparable, almost as though they were twins. And Edge, the annoying youngest brother, used to make it his mission to bother them. Get their attention. Draw them away from the pretty men and political chats and hopes for the future and back over to him. He'd chase them around the kitchens, to the protestation of the cooks, and play fight with Elena in the Royal Apartments, to the chagrin of Richard, the eldest. The blonde, tall, handsome Prince Charming. Perfect in every way. He was standing in front of his brother, watching him curiously, when Edge began to feel the rocks on his back.

He stirred, and opened his eyes.

Endless blackness, and bright white pinpricks all over it. He blinked a few times, letting his eyes adjust. He knew where they were - the moon. It really was never going to leave him. He sat up, feeling for the mask around his face when he suddenly remembered that there wasn't one there anymore. No, he'd let that go last night. Let down his mask and given it away, all for the girl next to him.

She was watching him, leaning against the rocky outcrop they'd chosen to steal away behind. She smirked, as she always did, and back in that green suit of hers.

"Good morning."

"We have mornings up here?"

The smile faltered, and just as expected, it crumbled. A painted on smile. He'd known that this might happen.

She leaned forward, holding the blankets close to herself. "Edge, I..."

"Rydia, it's okay."

"No, I just..."

Silence hovered in the air, so much thinner and clearer than it had been on the journey down. It had been so thick with magic, so full of hatred, before the end had happened.

"We're friends... aren't we?" She asked, turning to look at him, eyebrows ever so slightly pinched. If he'd been any less in love with her, he probably wouldn't have noticed.

He quirked his lips into a slight smile. "Of course." Now she could see his face; he supposed it was actually worth emoting.

"Then..." she looked away again, trailing off. "Then..."

"Rydia...?" He hadn't quite expected all of this. He'd expected a slap, for her being confused after the swell of emotions and rush of adrenaline slowed down. He'd anticipated tears, after she'd realised what she'd accidentally signed up for. He hadn't foreseen that he'd have to watch it as she broke down, however.

"Then you weren't kidding, were you?"

Edge blinked twice, then slowly shook his head. "You are the only woman for me. You always will be." He cupped her face in his hand, feeling the skin cool underneath and speckled with dust. He watched her, as her eyebrows drew close and her eyes ever so slightly red. He drew in for a kiss, but she jumped away, and up. He stared as she looked back down at him. They both seemed momentarily frozen in place as slowly, things clicked into place in their minds. Without his mask to cover his face, he felt more exposed than ever. Naked, alone, cold.

She shook her head as she stepped back, a few tears falling from her eyes. "I... I... I don't know." She turned tail and fled, back to camp. He knew that they would be missed. He already knew that they would've figured it out. But he'd been okay with that, because he'd expected to come back, announcing their relationship. The future that had been planned out for them, and one that he'd anticipated they'd happily fulfil together. He didn't expect to go back alone, and watch as the woman he loved had to face years of pain and suffering, and decide what to do with her future all at once.

He just sat there, he didn't know how long for, until he finally got himself back together, and dressed. He circled the rocks, making sure his mask was still firmly on his face, and entered camp from the north, not the southeast, so at least they wouldn't piece together that they'd been missing all night in the same place. That was the least he could do.

When he got back to camp, the men were waiting, one tent still up.

"I see you have finally returned." Cecil declared, voice slightly more subdued than usual.

Edge nodded. Only after a moment did he gather the strength for a pitiful excuse. "Figured I'd go and sleep under the stars, if we're never coming back." Kain let out a slightly derisive bark of laughter. "Well, at least I'm enjoying myself." Edge quipped. But it wasn't as snide as usual, and the real menace had disappeared some time ago now. He didn't particularly like the man, but he didn't hate him anymore; not by a long stretch.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Rosa declared, exiting the tent, Rydia following close behind, no sign of tears on her face anymore but a certain subdued note of shock lingered in her eyes. "Let's pack and go home, quickly." A general note of consensus was formed, and they packed up the remaining tent quickly, before hurrying back to the Lunar Whale. It didn't take them long at all, and they were soon back on the journey down to earth, with merely a day's wait. And during that day, there was almost no talking. No discussions. Just quiet; empty quiet. No one could handle it, really. They all just wanted to sleep. For so long, they'd been living off just potions, ethers, and kept themselves going on hatred and revenge and excitement and pure adrenaline. Only love remained and for Edge, that was the thing he was most uncertain of. He didn't even see her during the entire journey. She spent her time in the solitude of the lower deck, or sleeping. He spent his time in the engine room, or sleeping in the rafters. And before they knew it, they were back on the ground, in reality. Kain disappeared before anyone even saw, jumped or escaped whilst they slept - no one knew. And so Edge had to try harder than ever to keep out of Rydia's way. If that's what she wanted, he would oblige for as long as she needed. During their entire Mysidian Party he desperate not to be as miserable as his aching insides screamed that he was. But it barely worked. He caved, and saw her that night. That night, his mask came down again. He had thought that everything had been fixed, but he awoke to a terrible, tear-stained note.

Edge -

I want nothing more than to wake up in your arms every day for as long as I live, now I've done it a twice before. But I just can't be your queen, not yet. Not now. I was seven years old when this all began, and now I am eighteen. I need to see the world, all the things I've missed. I want to see Damcyan, and Edward, and visit Yang and help out in Mist. I want to see Palom and Porom, and scare them when I don't look like them anymore. I want to visit the mountains and forests of Troia, and visit my Eidolon family again. And whilst I want you, I want these things more right now than to only ever be your queen. You were my dearest friend for a year and a half, and I don't know when or how I fell in love with you but I did.

I'm so sorry, Edge. I will see you again.

Rydia.

Edge read it over and over again, not believing what he said. He tied his mask around his face once again, tightly and securely. He knew how she felt. He understood it. All those years, all those chances. But he was upset that she had to tell him all of this in words on a page that didn't respond to his questions, didn't grow upset when he did. But deep down, he just loved her too much to do anything about it. It sent his heart plummeting to the depths of the Underworld, but he knew that it wasn't because she didn't love him. He would wait, and he knew he would see her again. He would help her if she wanted, but he didn't have it in him to leave her altogether.

So he waited. And waited. And for months, he didn't hear anything. Not one single word. Nothing from anyone around the world, either.

Until, one day, as a very bored newly-crowned Edge sat on his throne, waiting with desperation for the consulting hours to come to an end, a woman in a heavy cloak entered. They came alone, looking down at the floor and not around in wonder - as most people did. And then, she looked up.

"R-Rydia?"

She smiled, shyly.

"Hello, Your Imperial Highness." She did a mock shallow courtesy and he grinned very faintly under his mask.

"Leave us." He said to his guards and ministers and scribes in the room, leaving the two of them completely alone. Consulting hours had just about finished, anyway. And even though Rydia could hand his ass to him, he really hoped that wasn't what she was here to do. Rydia pushes her good down, freeing the hair that'd grown a fair amount longer. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Rydia blinked rapidly and looked away. She was nervous, and embarrassed. Never a good combination. "Well, I... I have some news." She cleared her throat,

"Oh?" He asked, standing and taking off his crown, leaving it in the throne as he walked towards her. "The rebuilding with Mist?"

"No, but I uh-"

"Then... Yang?"

"No, not quite!"

"Edward - is he finally over the moping or...?" Edge was standing right in front of Rydia now, looking into her rapidly farting hazel eyes.

"No! I mean, yes but..."

Silence pervaded the air, like it's only ever done to their detriment before. "Rydia, you're worrying me." He said, calmly and evenly.

"I... you're going to be..."

"... a what? A Chocobo? A Trojan Dancer-"

"A father!" She snapped furiously, interrupting his inane ramblings. "There. I said it." She huffed indignantly.

Edge took a few steps backwards, eyes going wide. "Oh." It was all he could muster. He flopped onto one of the cushioned stools for the scribes. "Well."

"I know."

"We only ever.. twice! That's all it took?"

Rydia rolled her eyes. "Trust that to be the thing you worry about." She walked over to him, sitting down on a chair next to the throne. "Yes, it only took twice. Edward thinks it was something to do with the heightened magic and need for life on the moon or something."

"Yeah, course he does." Edge snorted. Rydia just sighed, not bothering to bite back a reply. She knew that anything she said would only pass over his head, anyway. "But if I'd know that this was going to happen anyway, then I'd suggest that we'd have done it way more."

Edge looked at Rydia and she looked halfway between laughing and crying. Sometimes, when he heard the stuff that came out of his own mouth, he couldn't blame her.

"Seriously, Edge?"

He shrugged.

"We've just made a huge problem for your crown and country, and this is what you have to say?"

"What huge problem? I'm twenty-three, unmarried, no heirs, and the only member of any royalty Eblan has. Frankly, you're a blessing to be welcomed with open arms."

Rydia opened her mouth and then shut it again. "I-"

"Yeah, I know. Well, maybe I oversimplified a little bit." She groaned. "But the important thing is that all the people who care want you to be queen, mother of princes and princesses, etcera anyway."

She'd face softened slightly and most of the tension evaporate. "They do?"

"Sure they do. It's me."

Her softened face quickly changed to a slight frown, but spluttering laughter won out. "Well. If it works, it works."

"So," he grinned, mostly to himself, "you mean that some of these chairs are finally going to be filled up again?"

Rydia's eyes swept over his face, reading the pain there that only she could understand. "Only two more."

"Two?!" Edge's eyes widened.

Rydia stood, rolling her eyes. Coming to stand in front of him, she smacked him over the head lightly. "Me and the baby, you idiot."

"I'm your king, thank you."

"And I'm going to be the queen?" She countered effortlessly.

Edge just looked at her, choosing not to open that particular can of worms right now.

He stood up, towering a head over her. Taking her head in his hand, he smiled fondly. He didn't stop her as she pulled down his mask.

Even though there were so many things to do, so many more exciting things to look forward to, he couldn't help but think of the family that had once livened up this very room. One day, he might have his own family like that, with a second son irritating his sisters in the kitchen and an eldest child who they all thought was irritatingly perfect.

I'm an absolute sucker for family fluff

Also, I really feel like royalty conflict in Rydia/Edge stories are such a plot contrivance. Like she just saved the world, has a good image, is the last summoner - there's like 0 reason why she wouldn't be a good candidate for queen, right? Unless you've constructed a scenario in which Edge was being groomed to marry another woman before shit went down...

...

...wait a minute...

...Heeeeey!

So, potential spoliers for a future oneshot aside...

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