insert standard disclaimer here
~~~~~
Allen watched the Mystic Moon with a sense of curiosity. He wondered how Hitomi was doing. It had been five years, after all.
He sighed and shut his eyes as a breeze came up and played with his hair. He had escaped to the gardens after he had left Celena's
room, and was just wandering along with his thoughts. He turned to look at t he palace. A light was on in one of the upper rooms.
Someone was in the window.
Allen watched as the silhouette stood without moving. Suddenly, it unhooked something from around it's neck, and threw it as far
as it could, before retreating back into the room. It seemed that he wasn't the only one with things on his mind.
Should I? Could I?
Have said the wrong things right a thousand times
If I could just rewind, I see it in my mind
If I could turn back time, you'd still be mine...
His gaze returned to the double moons hanging above him. He smiled.
"Hello, Hitomi. How are you? You know, it's been five years here since you left with what's-his-face. Van was pretty broken up
about that. He loves you. Celena is doing really well. She only had a relapse into Dilandau once, and that was about four years ago..."
He paused as a breeze caressed his face.
"I guess you can say we're all doing fine. Millerna started a hospital here, and it's turned out to be very helpful here in Asturia.
Dryden came back from his travels yesterday. Millerna was really happy; she missed him a lot. We're all worried about Van,
though. Merle especially. He's been really depressed lately, we can tell, even though he tries to hide it. You should come back. At
least for a visit. That would cheer him up. We all miss you."
His hair swayed gently in the breeze.
"It was nice to talk to you again."
You cried, I died
I should have shut my mouth, things headed south
As the words slipped off my tongue, they sounded dumb
If this old heart could talk, it'd say your the one
I'm wasting time when I think about it...
Allen closed his eyes again and smiled. He felt better. He missed her. The sandy-haired girl who captured his heart. Yes, he did
love her. He loved her like he loved Celena, a little sister for him to protect and look out for. How he had ever mistaken it for
anything else was beyond him. He smiled again as he remembered the look on her face when he proposed to her. She was shocked,
frightened, and delighted, all rolled into one. She had convinced herself she loved him just as he was convinced he loved her.
They were wrong.
I should have drove all night, I would have run all the lights
I was misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, Did the best I could
Damn, misunderstood...
Millerna had also convinced herself that she loved him, as well. Now she was happily with Dryden. He shook his head. He had
figured that one out. She had looked up to Marlene so much that she had even "fallen in love" with the same man. She was with
Dryden now, and he made her happy. Allen smiled.
Marlene.
He loved her. _Really_ loved her. They were perfect for eachother, and complimented eachother's personalities wonderfully. Now
only if Aston had seen that.
Could I? Should I?
Apologize for sleeping on the couch that night
Staying out too late with all my friends
You found me passed out in the yard again...
Allen wandered over to a nearby stone bench and sat, sword clanking against the stone. He watched the stars, wondering if she was
up there somewhere. He missed her badly. It killed him a little bit each day to wake up every morning and not having her there,
lying beside him.
She gave him Chid. He smiled as he thought of the little duke.
You cried, I tried
To stretch the truth but didn't lie
It's not so bad when you think about it...
The duke of Freid was his son, and one hell of a leader. Allen shook his head. He must have gotten it from his mother. He sighed.
It hurt him deeply to watch his soulmate be married off to another man in some stupid peace/alliance deal, then have her bear _his_
son while the intruder claimed him as his own. Allen scowled. He had wanted to hit that man numerous times.
Like the time when Princess Eries had convinced Aston to let him go to Freid as a diplomat, and had caught him slapping Marlene.
Or when they were escaping Freid and he had reprimanded Chid for mourning the loss of life. Bastard.
I would have drove all night, I would have run all the lights
I was misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, did the best I could
Damn, misunderstood
Intentions good...
At least Chid looked up to him, with all the stories Marlene had told him. He sighed and returned to studying the stars.
It's just you and I, think about it...
He should have run off with her when he had the chance. Then they could be happily married off in some obscure little country
with a quaint little cottage. They would have had a boy, Chid, and a little girl. Allen would support them all by training young
boys to become noble swordsmen. He would come home each day, get a hug from the children and a kiss from Marlene. After the
children were put to bed, he and Marlene would stay up and watch the glowing embers of the fire while talking about their future together.
I should have drove all night
I would have run all the lights
I was misunderstood
I stumbled like my words, did the best I could
I'm hanging outside your door
I've been here before
Misunderstood...
Allen sighed. Then he would have never been assigned to the Crusade, met Van, Hitomi, or Merle, made peace with his father, or
ever found his sister again. Maybe it was for the best that it worked out this way.
"Allen!" Celena's voice pulled him out of his reverie. She wandered over to him, smiling brightly and eyes shining.
"C'mon! They're all probably waiting for us!" She playfully tugged him to his feet. He noticed the eccentric piece of jewelry
prominently displayed across her forehead and shot her a questioning look. She shrugged.
"I won't deny the fact that he's a part of me anymore."
Allen bowed to her, playfully, "If that is what my lady wishes."
"Oh stop it!" She swatted him on the arm, laughing.
I stumbled like my words, did the best I could
Damn, misunderstood
Allen laughed and suddenly grew somber, "Feeling better?"
She nodded energetically, "We had a little talk and managed to reach a compromise. Now let's go!"
Allen laughed again as she pulled him along by the hand like and overly excited child.
It was definitely for the best.
Intentions good.
~~~~~
A/N: *radio announcer's voice* And that was 'Misunderstood' by Bon Jovi. Stay tuned...