Eiko looked astonished, as Garnet walked, no staggered, back into the castle with her hand to her head. What had happened? It was completely against Garnet's nature to hurt the man she loved like this! Unless…

  No, Garnet still loved him, Eiko was sure of that. Why else would she rush into his open arms like that? Eiko didn't know much, she was only six, but she knew that something was wrong and that something was Garnet. She gave a small look at Zidane just to check he hadn't suddenly gone freaky. Nope, he was still good, old Zidane apart from the look of pain and disbelief on his face.

 " Ziddy!" Eiko rushed to Zidane. She wanted to jump into his open arms like Garnet had done but decided against it. How upset was the guy meant to feel? Instead she gave a little curtsey.

 " Hi Eiko. Wh…what happened to Dagger?" Yes, it was pure, true love in his face. Eiko giggled.

 " Doesn't she want you to call her "Your Majesty" now Ziddy?" Zidane winced and she instantly regretted her words. " Sorry."

 " S'okay. It was just a joke. Has she been like this recently?" He had such hope in his eyes Eiko hated to disappoint him but he had to know the truth.

 " Um…. I haven't really been near the palace in AGES. Regent Cid adopted me and now I live in Lindblum and Madain Sari is being rebuilt and all the moogles live there…" Eiko could tell he was losing interest so she quickly ended. " But Steiner and Beartrix should know." Eiko expected him to thank her profusely but he was already running towards the two guards.  I, she thought determinedly. Am going to reunite these stupid lovebirds even if it's the last thing I do.

   Zidane ran across the gossiping crowd to where Beartrix and Steiner were talking gravely near the door though stopped when Zidane got near.

 " What do you want?" Steiner eyed him up and down while Beartrix frowned.

  " Just let me see Dagger!" Zidane tried to push them out the way but Beartrix caught him on the hand.

 " I don't think she wants to see you at the moment." Steiner looked angry but his face softened a little in sympathy.

 " Dammit Rusty, she has changed and I need to know why!"

  By now the crowd had dispersed and all his friends were waiting for him near the theatre ship to hear how he came back but this was more important. Something had happened to Garnet, when she hugged him she was all right but afterwards…. it wasn't her.

 " Zidane," Beartrix patted him on the shoulder. " It's been a year now and people do change." Zidane pushed her off and glared. " Why don't you try again tomorrow? It'll be easier than. Go, talk to your friends."

   Zidane turned and walked back down to the theatre ship. After all this she dismisses him like that? Hadn't she ever seen him as an equal? That…that…was not Dagger, not the Garnet he knew and had grown to love. She'd never…she wouldn't…. unless…

   " Zidane," Vivi gave him a small tap but he didn't bother to look at him. She was his life, his love. She was the reason he had made it back to Alexandria, each time he was near death she was the voice that brought him back. And even in the end she dealt the final blow that saved them all.

  And while she claimed he taught her so much she also taught him, released his inner self. He could play the fool now, talk to the others, make jokes and pretend he wasn't hurt, but he needed to see her again anyway possible.

A/N: Yes…Garnette also wrote that chapter by herself -_-'.  That's why it sucks.