She is my Christ, she is my redeemer

Architect of my dreams, she'll stay with me forever.

Ash – Stay in Love Forever

Luzzu chuckled quietly to himself, watching in unfettered amusement as Lesca's nose wrinkled in distaste upon entering the Guado metropolis. She rubbed at her arms absently, trying to ward off the cool air blowing in from the Thunder Plains as she looked around the place apprehensively. He too felt a certain unease in Guadosalam, though what led to the discomfiture of himself and his summoner he couldn't place a finger on. Cid hung back from the two, eager to reach the Al Bhed inn and see a friendly face. There weren't many that favoured the company of an Al Bhed, especially not one as prickly as Cid, even when in the fellowship of a summoner

Lesca's forehead creased and she turned to her Guardians. "Is it just me, or is it creepy as hell here?"

The younger Guardian laughed outright, "It's not just you, I feel it too! It is…uncomfortable. Stifling, do you agree?"

She nodded; her attention distracted by one of the great maester's of Yevon himself, Lord Jyscal Guado. He caught her eye, tipping a nod in her direction as he consulted with one of his men. A younger Guado caught the silent exchange and smiled at the summoner before making his way toward her. He was much taller than she was; even Cid and Luzzu were dwarfed in comparison to the blue haired man as he bore down upon them. He bowed deeply to the assembled travellers, the gesture returned by all after a discreet, well aimed kick at Cid's ankle by Lesca.

The Guado's voice was soft as he began to speak. "The Lady Summoner. It is an honour that you have chosen to stay awhile in our humble municipality. I extend the hand of friendship to you on behalf of the Guado."

Lesca blushed at the flowery compliments. "I thank you, sir…?"

"Please forgive me. Seymour, son of Maester Jyscal."

She stammered, embarrassed at her indiscretion. "Please forgive me, Lord Seymour! I had no idea…" She trailed off, at a loss for words.

He smirked slightly, running a clawed finger down her pale cheek. She suppressed the shudder of revulsion that rose within her, unable to shake the feeling that things weren't quite as they seemed in the city. "No need for such formalities. Seymour is perfectly adequate. You are the daughter of Lord Braska?"

"I am, it is an honour to meet you." She bowed once more, earning his gentle laughter.

"Well, Lady Lesca, is it not?" She nodded as he continued, "Would you and your Guardians care to join my father and myself tonight? It is not much, but the least we can do is offer a summoner and her Guardians the hospitality of our abode."

"I, we, would be honoured. Please excuse us for the time being though, my Lord. I have business to attend to."

Seymour raised an eyebrow. "As you wish, we shall await your arrival. You intend to visit your father, I presume? He was a fine man, well liked and respected during his short stay with us here."

"He was liked by most, he was an amazing man. I take my leave of you for the moment, my Lord. As you said, I wish to visit the Farplane." She gestured loosely to the beckoning entrance of the resting-place of the dead.

"Of course." Lesca began to walk away, before being stopped in her tracks by the call from the maester's son. "And you will give my regards to your husband? I was saddened to hear of his loss, Sir Auron was an exemplary Guardian."

She clenched her fists, nails biting mercilessly into the soft flesh as she called woodenly over her shoulder. "I shall."

~*~*~

Auron tossed fitfully in his slumber, the cold sweat making his skin clammy to the touch. His eye snapped open, darting in confusion as his mind struggled to swim through the fog of unconsciousness. He grabbed blindly at the other side of the bed, feeling for the wife that was never there. As he woke fully from the nightmare he sighed heavily in relief. It was all too frequent now, the incubus that haunted him. The same phantasm replayed itself time and again in the troubled sleep of the Guardian. He, who feared no fiend, feared the night and the dreams that came with it. It should have been pleasant, he should have been grateful that his consciousness saw fit to grace him with the visions. The comfort it should have afforded only brought forth pain and regret.

Lesca stood, watching the busy metropolis of Bevelle still as the hours wore on into twilight. She was waiting for him, shivering as she had the first moment he had laid eyes on her. He felt the smile work its way onto his face and he decided not to call, to let her explore her thoughts for moments longer as he stalked toward her silently. He studied her figure, marvelling that she had waited all these years for his return. Wondering at what he had done to please the God's so, that they would bless him in this way. She looked older; the painfully thin body had filled out and given way to sensuous, womanly curves. He swallowed thickly, trying to quiet the nagging voice in his mind that told him to rush to her, take her there and then.

The prolonged wait was sweet agony, a feeling he wanted to keep and end all at once. Would she still want him? Would she accept an unsent as her husband, as her lover? So many questions that only she could answer and yet…he waited. His uncertainty made him clumsy and a stone was disturbed underfoot, the small scuffle alerting her to his presence. She turned, verdant eyes shining with barely contained joy when she saw it was he and no other. She ran to him, stumbling into his arms in her haste. Auron embraced her fiercely, the peace washing over him as she pressed herself close to him, moulding her body to his own. He inhaled her scent deeply, flowers and sunshine reminding him that she was here, he was home. He kissed the top of her head lightly, savouring the silken touch against his cheek and lips.

Lesca caught his hand, pressing it to her cheek as if to make sure he was really there. She closed her eyes in contentment, smiling as she felt the calluses on his fingers caress her fair skin with infinite tenderness. He claimed her lips, grinning as his kiss was returned with fervour. As the clinch ended, she searched his face, frowning at the injury there present. He shrugged slightly, inclining his head to stop the inquiries relating to the scar at least for just now. He wanted to keep the moment as it was. She smiled gently, nodding to show she understood. Her eyes sparkled as she explored the russet pool with her own jade oculars, looking for answers to questions she didn't know how to ask. He felt her penetrate his soul with the inquisitive gaze and he let her continue, the scrutiny welcomed. She rested her head on his chest once more, curiosity apparently sated. He caught the end of a muffled question mumbled into his chest and he squeezed her closer, hoping the gesture would indicate he had not heard her.

"Where have you been, Auron? It's been four years, I missed you so much…"

"Zanarkand, my love. I was fulfilling a promise to Jecht. I've been guarding Tidus, his son."

"You're back now though? Forever?"

"I think so. I hope so." He sighed, watching as the skies began to shine down upon them.

"You don't know for sure? Why?"

"Jecht is Sin. He brought me here, he may take me back to Zanarkand."

"B, but…you can't leave me again! I won't let you be taken! I'll become a summoner, we can defeat Sin together!" Lesca cried, her voice shrill as she clutched at straws to try and keep him near.

"No! You can't do that! I won't allow you to throw your life away as we did."

"You're unsent." It wasn't a question; the statement was made with a sad finality as she studied him.

"I am. I'm sorry."

"I don't care. Don't go. Is the boy here? We can raise him together. Me, you, Tidus and Yunie! A family. Jecht would allow that, he was reasonable. Surely that will still be present, if only a little?"

"I don't know! I want this, more than anything, but…I know this is a dream, Lesca. We're not really here, for all I know you remarried, you may not even think of me anymore, let alone love me."

She looked at him, uncharacteristically serious. "I will always love you, Auron. Forever. Don't forget that. Don't ever doubt my feelings."

"I'm sorry. I love you so much, I miss you…I don't want this to end."

Lesca began to fade and he grasped at her, howling in frustration as he grabbed thin air. "Everything must end."

As the dream ended he was left feeling empty, a white light leading him back to consciousness as he struggled to bring her back, keep them both here in his dream world. It was futile, he knew. It was meant to keep him sane, it was meant to console him with the thought that she awaited him, still loved him. It was bittersweet torture. What good is the love of your soul mate when you cannot relish the company of one another? And so he dreamed the torment nightly, wishing reality and fantasy would interchange. Auron railed against the fates that had led him here, sent him to his doom and cursed him to serve out his death in a nightmare. He laid his head back against the pillow again, trying to keep the barricades holding his emotions in check intact. Auron stopped and examined his sorrow, realising it overwhelmed him. He mourned the chances he'd lost, the life he had sacrificed in a moment of rage. More than anything, he lamented the sacrifice of his love. For the first time since his demise, he wept.

~*~*~

"Go on, get in there! They won't bite." Luzzu encouraged.

Lesca chewed at her lip, a bad habit that was becoming increasingly worse. "I don't know…I'm scared."

"A bit of fear never hurt anyone. I'll tell Cid you were too chocobo shit to go in…"

She grinned, punching his arm lightly. "You know, that's the first time I've heard you curse? I like it. Cid'll wet himself when I tell him what a good influence he's had on you."

Luzzu looked nervous. "Don't tell him. He'll tease me for days."

"Ok. I'm going in…" She looked decisive and he applauded her sarcastically. She stuck her tongue out at him before entering the Farplane.

The haunting beauty of the last resting-place for departed souls took her breath away. The young summoner composed herself before walking over to a quiet corner, thanking the God's that she had not yet had to send anyone on her pilgrimage. The fear of seeing one she had sent would have plagued her. She looked into the tinted pink fog, watching as her mother and father appeared in front of her in line with her thoughts. They look so happy, so peaceful…I can't wait to be here with Auron. She shifted her daydream to encapsulate her husband, frowning when he didn't appear in front of her. She tried again with the same result, her heart skipping a beat. Why isn't he here?

The realisation nearly knocked her from her feet and she grasped a nearby rock for support. There was no summoner, he wasn't sent. He's become a fiend. Oh God's, no.

~*~*~

Seymour looked at her with the guise of concern. "You haven't eaten at all, Lady Lesca. Are you well?"

"I'm fine. I'm just not hungry, I apologise."

"No matter. Did you see your loved ones on the Farplane?"

She narrowed her eyes slightly, a look that Cid and Luzzu caught while Seymour didn't. "I did."

"It must have been a comfort to see Sir Auron after all this time." The Guado simpered.

"He wasn't there." Lesca retorted sharply, not caring about her tone.

Seymour hid his smile. "I see. A shame that the legendary Guardian had to become a fiend."

Cid felt the restraining hand on his arm as Luzzu saw the Al Bhed's temper boil. He nodded gravely at the younger man, thankful for his intervention. Despite initial differences, the two had become firm friends. Lesca shook a little as she attempted to quell her own rage bubbling within her. "That it is. I no longer wish to speak of it. What's done is done."

"Let us hope you do not face the fiend that was once your husband in battle. I cannot imagine the anguish it would cause to you if you had to kill the one you loved."

Seymour jumped a little as the summoner slammed her fist on the table, the plates and glasses shaking from the violence of the action.

"I don't care whose son you are, you will not talk like that in front of me. Do you understand? No more." She hissed, storming from the mansion. Luzzu smiled apologetically at the Guado as he and Cid rushed after the retreating summoner.

Seymour sat and contemplated the effect his words had had on the Lady Lesca. He realised he was more than a little shaken by the force of her anger and he grinned, relishing the remnants of his fear. He had not felt so alive since his own pilgrimage; the fear and anger had spurred him on. He wondered briefly if he could use her turbulent emotions for his own gain before deciding against it. No, there will be other summoner's to pass through here, ones more easily manipulated than she. I will bide my time for now… He stood and thought where she could be, deciding to check the inn of the heathens first of all. He had a feeling that he would need her in the future, that their paths would cross in later years despite the fate awaiting her in Zanarkand.

He opened the door to the travel agency to find the air thick with hostility. He hid the smirk and found Lesca watching him, not bothering to disguise her mistrust now.

"I apologise, my Lady. It was insensitive of me to talk like that. Please, let us put it behind us. A fellow summoner should realise the burden I carry with my aeons."

She looked at her uncle nervously before addressing the Guado. "Fine, I forgive you. You're a summoner?"

He smiled at her, still aware of the hate filled stares directed at him. "I am. My mother became my final aeon, Anima, when I was but a child."

"Then why not defeat Sin?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "My place is here, the Guado need me. I will become a maester with the death of my father; I cannot abandon that duty. I perform the sending's for the whole of Guadosalam as well. Very few summoner's stop here."

She smirked. I wonder why? "I see. Well, we have a long day ahead of us, Seymour. Good night."

The none too subtle hint was taken and he left, leaving her Guardians to look at her in wonder. Cid cleared his throat. "That was kinda rude, Lescy."

She laughed. "I know and I don't care. He deserved it."

"Okay, but don't come running to me when the whole of Yevon turn against us cause of something you said."

"I won't. I'll run to Luzzu."

The younger man blushed. "I'll be there, Lesca."

Lesca smiled sadly. "I know."

~*~*~

"Auron! Auron, wake up!"

Auron sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eye. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Tidus looked at him fearfully. "You had that dream again, you were yelling. It woke me up."

It came flooding back to him and he groaned despite himself. "I'm sorry. Go back to bed, it's still early."

"Can't sleep now."

Auron rolled his eye. "Try."

"Have tried. Can't."

The man briefly considered giving the boy a swig from his jug to knock him out before deciding against it. "Well, go do something productive. Clean that sty you call a room."

The boy crossed his arms defensively. "It's not untidy. I know where everything is. Why don't you come play some ball with me?"

The Guardian looked over at the bedside clock. "Because it's three in the morning and I want to sleep."

"Tough. You woke me so you're getting up."

"You forget that I can and will make you regret this."

Tidus grinned. "We'll see. Get up."

Auron grunted, sitting upright and scowling at the lad. The look which had once terrified Tidus now had no effect as he grinned back at the man, winking as he spun the blitzball on his finger. The older man felt his spirits deflate as he resigned himself to his fate. He hauled himself to his feet and dressed quickly, growling as Tidus began to giggle.

"What?"

Tidus smirked. "Didn't have ya pegged as a boxers man."

"Shut up."

"Embarrassed?"

"No, but you will be when I tell your little crush about your soft toy you need to get to sleep…"

The boy's eyes opened wide in horror. "You wouldn't."

Auron grinned evilly, "Oh, but I would."

"My old man sent you here to torment me, didn't he? None of this guarding crap." Tidus grumbled.

"Indeed. You finally saw through my innocent façade." The words reeked of sarcasm.

Tidus glowered at his father's friend before blushing. "How'd you know about her anyway?"

Auron shrugged. "What kind of a Guardian would I be if I didn't know about your childhood sweethearts? Jecht never told me that children had romantic endeavours here too."

Tidus rolled his eyes. "Oh jeez, Auron! It's cool to have a girlfriend, but then you wouldn't know, would you? You're such a stiff."

"You're only eleven."

"Your point being?"

The man sighed. "You should respect your elders."

Tidus looked at him earnestly. "I do respect you. You're a pretty cool dad."

The boy ran out, leaving Auron to follow at a leisurely pace. He tried to call to the lad, "I'm not your father!" but he was too far away.

I wonder if we'd have had children? Would I have been a good father? He shook his head, clearing the musings. I'll never know, there's no point in tormenting myself with what ifs. What's done is done and I can't change a damn thing.

~*~*~

Thanks to:

The Angel of The Lion

Wi11

Refugee

Pierson

Plug; Pierson, Refugee and Rinoa Heartilly. We three are the Coven. Come and seek us out…see profile for details.