Tidus sat up and rubbed his eyes. It was never morning, it was never afternoon, it was never evening, just always dark with patches of light hanging in the air like lanterns without casing, and memories without anywhere to go. The sound of pounding water greeted his ears familiarly.

It hadn't been like most of their other dreams. It hadn't been full of dream-kisses and cuddles. It had been full of promises. He'd tried to explain that he was coming back for her, coming back to her arms and her love. He hoped it was the right thing, because now that she knew, he couldn't turn back. And he couldn't fail.

So he stood up and made his way towards the part of the Farplane that he rarely went to. It was built like Zanarkand, with tall buildings and lights and crowds of young people. He wandered around the city for a while, pondering over it's uniqueness and it's similarity to that of Zanarkand.

After inquiring of some passerby's, he found the building that the council was said to do all their business in. He walked in through doors of glass and wood with brass handles into a hall carpeted in deep red-gold-green patterns. He walked to what was somewhat of a lobby, anxiety ever growing in his heart. There were lots of people in the room, some holding numbers, others seemed lost. There was a line at the desk that seemed to be a mile long, and his heart would have dropped, had it not been in his throat.

He was going to walk to the back of the line when a lady who seemed strangely familiar grabbed his wrist and told him to follow her.

They went up a wide staircase and down a few halls before she opened almost-hidden doors to reveal another long corridor. He was getting tired of being half-dragged, but she continued in her fast pace to the end of the hall. She opened a pair of large, strong doors onto somewhat of a terrace that seemed to be hidden from the outside.

Tidus could hardly keep from sweating. This was the council, this was his way out.

The terrace was a half-circle. His back was to the flat half, and arch was set up with chairs. It was perfectly positioned, the entire council could see him without the slightest ounce of difficulty. One seat was empty until his guide took her place among the other members of the council. To his amazement, surprise, and horror, his guide had been Lady Yunalesca. Among the members of the council, there were some he recognized and some he didn't. All were either high summoners, or maester's, with a fayth or two in attendance as well. As he scanned the room, he didn't know whether to feel ecstatic or terrified that Braska was among them.

As soon as the initial shock of the reality of what was going on had come and gone, he bowed politely albeit a little clumsily.

"We've been expecting you for quite some time," said Lady Yunalesca. "We were all a bit surprised to see that you waited this long to seek our permission to go back to Spira."

"In all honesty, Lady Yunalesca, I had no idea that there was a way out of here. Or else I probably would have been here the moment I found out," Tidus said. He knew when to be respectful, and now was one of these times. It was extremely nerve-racking to speak to someone you had helped to send to the farplane. The boy he recognized as Bahamut's Fayth spoke next.

"You were very mature about all of this. I had expected you to take it harder. Now, I must ask you the same question that we have asked countless others since the time this council was set up: why should you be allowed to even take the challenge to go back?"

Tidus almost faltered. He could say he was a hero, but they knew that. All were heroes of one sort or another during their time (or after). He could say he was in love, but so had they been, he was sure. So he thought for a while before coming to the conclusion that both supported each other.

"Before I answer, do you mind if I ask you all one question?"

"Of course," said Lady Yunalesca.

He took a deep breath. "Do you wish to make the ultimate hero, the one who set Spira free from Sin, as happy as ever they could be?"

"I didn't know you set yourself at such a high regard," one of the members said sarcastically with a smile. It was tense for Tidus, but the other members smiled as well.

"However, yes, we wish for their happiness. But we can't let you walk out of here just for that," Lady Yunalesca spoke again.

Tidus smiled, "I wasn't talking about myself. Lady Yuna. She set Spira free, and she helped rebuild the world that Sin destroyed. She rebuilt Spira with her own hands and her strength. She cries at night, and she's lonely. . . I hear her voice, sometimes, and it's a heart-wrenching sound. The sound of her pain haunts me, and I can't be with her to tell her it's alright. I'm sure you all want her to be happy as much as I do. She bravely fought sin, and her reward is loneliness." He wondered a little if he'd said too much, but he kept his eyes locked on Braska's.

Braska spoke for the first time, and as he spoke his eyes were sad. He looked like a father who was looking at his child through a glass window, watching her cry and cry while he was able to do nothing. "Did you love my daughter?"

Tidus's eyes filled with tears, and he found it hard to conceal the words he had heard so many times from his father. "You always cry. . ." Instead of letting it get to him, he straightened his back a little without even realizing he was doing it. He pushed back the tears and answered with every ounce of honesty his body contained. "With all my heart, and I always will."

Lady Yunalesca, who had been sitting forward in her chair eagerly, leaned back and looked Tidus in the face. Her expression gave nothing away. "Will you step outside for a moment, Tidus?"

Tidus bowed gracefully and stepped out of the large oak doors with the brass handles, shutting them behind him and sighing deeply. He hoped his honesty would be enough to get him at least on the road back to Yuna. He didn't know what he'd do if he failed to get back to her. He found himself pacing, and brushing his hair back awkwardly. Visions of Yuna crying flashed into his head. He didn't want her to have those tears anymore.

It seemed like forever in that long, empty corridor. Forever waiting for what would be the final verdict on whether he and Yuna could be happy for a while. Whether their, her, heroism was enough to make death cough up Tidus.

It was only a few minutes later that Lady Yunalesca opened the door and they retook their positions. Tidus stood shy, but fierce and passionate. His nervousness seemed to be getting the better of him.