grown
part 3

By Aishiteru

They grew adept at finding secret places to indulge their love. She was something that Zidane could not give up; no matter what guilt and remorse he felt. They were above suspicion; the Queen's beloved consort, raised from the populace, and the young innocent Princess of Lindbulm, whom the citizens had seen grow up. Trusted. And it grew even easier when an urgent crisis came up in Lindbulm (negotiations with the Genomes had gotten rocky over a dispute about the different technologies) and Regent Cid and his Lady had flown back post haste, leaving Eiko in Zidane (and Dagger)'s care.

And with Dagger distracted and fretful, occupied with governing a thriving, growing country, it was easy for the two to slip off, and find a secret place in the gardens, or in the deserted areas of the castle. Sometimes Eiko thought she was dreaming. It was like a dream, a long unending summer's day, filled with soft caresses and pleasure filled hours. And the guilt was easy to shove to the back of her mind while he was with her..

But the day that the lovers woke up began the same as all the others in their long affair.

They met in the gardens, morning light pooling with almost painful clarity around them. As he moved towards her, Zidane could only stare, entranced. She had begged off, making mysterious excused for almost four days, leaving him stewing in worry and guilt. But now that he saw her...

Yards of delicate gold veined silk cascaded around her slender figure, tight around the waist and bodice, and immodestly low, although that was somewhat covered by white frilly lace that could not compare to the perfect creaminess of her skin. He could see the beginning of her slender breasts at the daring neckline, and could see her flush modestly as she took in his reaction.

Strands of rich purple hair were caught up in an elaborate knot of braids, high on top of her fragile face, then falling in an endless tumble down her back. As he breathed in, he could smell her fresh clean scent, and ached to hold her. She smiled shyly as she stood to receive him, making a little twirl to show her finery off to the best advantage. "Do you like it?" she asked a little timidly. This was the first dress she had actually bought on her own; mother had always helped and advised her on what to wear, and she wasn't sure if she could pull it off. It was certainly more daring then anything she had worn before....

He did not speak, but the look in his eyes answered her, even as he pulled her to him for a breath taking kiss. As they reluctantly parted, breath coming harsh and fast in heated passion, he shook his head, smiling. "Didn't we say we were going to the South Tower today? We wanted to go to the roof..."

She nodded, then took his hand, kilting her skirts up with the other. "Let's go!" She ran freely, laughing, and he laughed with her.

Dagger rubbed her eyes wearily, then went back to studying the documents Cid had sent over. It seemed that the disputes with Black Mage Village had somehow been smoothed over (she sensed Lad Hilda's hand in this) but their was still more to be discussed. Cid suggested that they all convene at Alexandria for an official meeting, writing rather wryly 'that it would be a reunion for her as well.' In his typical 'efficient' way, he had already sent out invitations, and taken care of everything. She laughed out loud. Everyone should arrive tomorrow! Freya, Fratley, Puck, Vivi and his many sons, Mikoto, the Tantalus Crew, who just happened to be in Lindbulm, and even the reclusive Amarant had been found (Lani had dobbed him in).

As she walked some feeling back into her legs, she heard Zidane's rich laughter ring out. It was a sound that she hadn't heard in too long, and her heart caught in her breast, as she peered through her windows. Eiko was dragging him back towards the castle as they laughed together, at quite an undignified pace. She looked down with some fondness at the pair. Zidane had been so unhappy lately, and she was grateful for whatever distraction the young girl could give him. If only her heart and her mind and her time were as free...

Sighing, she went back to work, sealing off all thoughts of her divided heart for 'later.'

Alexandria and the surrounding countryside was spread out at their feet, but neither Eiko nor Zidane was looking at scenery.

They had finished eating the picnic lunch Eiko had requested from the kitchens, after a few hours of more madcap exploring, and had decided to go up to the roof. Now, where the sun shone the warmest, and conveniently hidden in a hard to see nook, Zidane gently unfastened the ties of Eiko's new dress. Slowly, tantalizingly, the silken folds parted, revealing rose flushed creamy skin, the rounded curve of her shoulders, the clean line of her back. He bent his head to caress her with his mouth, tongue and lips sliding a path from her neck down. She shivered as the rich folds of the material were stripped away, only to be followed by the odd feeling of Zidane's warmth through his own un-discarded clothes. As the last tie came undone in his nimble fingers, silk sighed, and fell in thick pool around her feet. She turned, small hands threading themselves through his sun bright hair, and leaned into his embrace.

"-Master Zidane and Miss Eiko did say they were going to the roof, Princess."

"Hmm, I don't see them anywhere, Dr. Tot."

Zidane faltered, hearing the sound of his wife's voice. She sounded...happy...about something. Eiko arched against him, eyes closed. He could feel her breath coming faster and faster, a quickening of her pulses as she demanded release.

"I know Zidane will want to hear about this, and so will Eiko. It'll be so great, just like old times!"

Dr. Tot laughed. "I hope not entirely like old times. You were all in a great amount of danger so much! Come - I think they mentioned going to the North Gardens; or perhaps they are in your great-aunt's suite; it has about twenty rooms, and a most impressive bathroom."

"What's so impressive about it? I don't remember seeing..."

The two voices trailed away. Zidane and Eiko slid to the floor, limbs intertwined, catching their breath. She turned, and tucked her head into the curve where his neck and shoulder joined, and he leant his chin on her head, inhaling the mingled scents of her and their love making. Shame darkened his sky blue eyes to the colour of midnight, and he drew in his breath with a slight hitch.

"Don't say it."

Her voice was slightly muffled, and when he tipped her chin up to look into her eyes, the pure clear emerald depths were clouded and moist with tears. "Don't say you're sorry, Zidane. Because I'm not."

"Eiko..." What am I supposed to say? Well, yeah, it was good fucking you, you're a good girl, Eiko. Run along now, and find someone else to roll in the dirt with, I've got responsibilities? I'm married?

I love you?

Because I do, you know. Brilliant lonely tiny little girl, you followed me around everywhere. At first I was a little resentful of your obvious crush; after all it did get in the way of me and Dagger. But after a while I came to like you, then love you like a little sister, on our journey. And then you came back, all grown up, but not yet a woman, but not a girl anymore either. And you loved me. I loved you. I love you. Forever and ever and ever...

"We...both knew this couldn't last, Zidane." She pulled sharply out of his arms, and turned away, hair curving forward to shield her her face. "But..." Her face tilted up, and he could see she was crying, the tears sliding silently down. She looked into his eyes, and then smiled through her tears. "...I'm so happy that you finally...I've loved you since I was six years old, Zidane. And...I think I'll always love you. But facts are facts. You're married. And you love Dagger. She loves you. And I love you both, too much to split you apart. And I knew this would happen...but I'm still so happy..."

His heart breaking, but with a feeling perilously close to relief, Zidane pulled the weeping girl in his arms. They lay together in the sun one last time.

It was something fine and delicate he was working on for once; for so many months he had been working on the Invincible, since he knew it inside and out, and then on retrieving the data storage on it, and then erecting shelters and the necessary equipment to maintain the Genomes and extend the lifelines of the Black Mages. Such tiring tedious work, or so he would have thought so a long time ago. Instead, he laboured with only half his mind on his tasks most of the time, the half quietly waiting, almost in a meditative trance. Nothing seemed to touch him anymore.

This was very fiddley work; a faceted sun-catcher for energy secreted in near invisible places, or disguised as something else, and all the delicate wires and sensors required to operate the small holographic transmittor. In the end, it should be a communicator, a present for Queen Garnet, and her Prince Consort Zidane of Alexandria. There were three more for Burmecia, Cleyra and Lindbulm. Mikoto was leaving early in the morning; the Invincible would take her the distance to Alexandria in a matter of hours.

"Kuja."

He raised his head, and brushed fine strands of silvery hair out of his eyes. "Yes?"

"You're coming to Alexandria." Mikoto looked at him, implacability written all over her body, the crossed arms, the slightly twitching tail, and the steady blue gaze.

"Am I?" He let something resembling a sneer twist his features. You'll have to tie me up first.

"Even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming, Kuja. It's not good for you to rot here. You have a soul. None of us here do."

He resumed his tinkering, and did not look at all at her.

"I'm sick of making excuses for you every time Zidane visits. What's more, every letter he sends, he asks about you."

"What about your soul?"

"I'm used to the pace of life here. I lived in Terra all my life before coming here."

"Oh, and I wonder where I grew up?"

"You ran away as soon as you could."

He glared at her furiously. "I did not. Run. Away."

"Then you escaped as soon as you could. Before I was manufactured even."

He winced at manufactured, or perhaps at her matter-of-fact tone.

"We can argue all day if you wish. But it won't change that you're going, even if I have to drug you."

"Then I won't eat."

She produced a small can from the hand she had had tucked behind her back. He sniffed the air in alarm, noticing with some apprehension that his sight was already starting to cloud. "Sweet dreams, brother. I'll wake you up when we're an hour away from Alexandria."

His last thoughts were of incoherent fury mixed with a healthy dose of surprise and amusement, with added surprise that he was reacting so strongly. He hadn't felt this much since he had last gone up against Zidane.