Disclaimer: And we persist in reminding me that I do not own FF9…stupid lawyers *mutters* ……….

"Shh. Come on" Alexis whispered. "Don't make any noise." She cautioned.

"I know what I'm doing." Derrick snapped.

"Obviously not because if you did, you would know you have to be quiet." She returned.

They were behind a corner when the felt someone come up behind them. It was Steiner!

"Aaah! It's Rusty! Run!"

"What are you two doing out of bed? Hey! Come back here!" Clink! Clink!

The two kids ran into the main hallway and up the stairs with Steiner panting behind them.

Beatrix heard a noise and ran up the corridor her weapon down. Suddenly, two flashes of color went racing by. Not very far behind she heard the familiar clink of armor and soon came face to face with Steiner. She put her weapon away and joined the chase. Alexis screamed and ran to her parent's bedroom. Beatrix was catching up. Derrick tried the door. It was locked. Alexis started banging on the door. Beatrix finally caught up to them. She grabbed their wrists and said "Alright you two. Back to bed. Let's go, march."

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Zidane sat up in bed. "I told them not to disturb us!" he growled. "Go away!" he yelled.

The knocking continued.

"Zidy?" Dagger said sleepily. "What's going on?"

"I don't know." He stood up and pulled on his pants. Tightening his belt he walked toward the door. The knocking stopped and Zidane opened the door to find out what was going on. He saw Beatrix and two tails disappearing around the corner. He shook his head and went back into the room.

"So what was it?"

"I'm not sure but I saw Beatrix shepherding the kids back to bed."

"Why would the kids be out of bed?"

"Beats me." Zidane opened the door and walked out into the hall. "Beatrix? Could you come here for a moment please?"

"Coming, Your Majesty." Called Beatrix.

Five minutes later, Beatrix was standing in front of Zidane.

"What was that all about? Why were the kids out of bed banging down my door?"

"If you'll give me a moment to explain my king, I'll tell you what happened."

"Okay. Go ahead."

"I was on patrol when I heard some commotion coming from the eastern corridor. I wasn't sure what it was, so I drew my weapon and prepared to fight. I saw the kids flash by and heard Captain Steiner coming after them. The kids got up for some reason and Steiner must have scared them so they took off running. I'm sorry if they disturbed you. I won't let it happen again." Beatrix finished.

"Thank you Beatrix. You may go." Zidane waited until Beatrix was out of sight before yelling "Steiner! Get over here now!"

"Coming." Steiner called amid clinks of his rusty armor.

Dagger came out of the room. "What's going on?"

"Just a minute. I have pressing matters to attend to at the moment." Zidane said in his kingly voice.

Dagger turned and walked back towards the bedroom. She hesitated then reached out and pulled his tail gently. "Be good." She admonished. "The night's not over yet." With that she walked into the room.

"Shit!" Zidane cursed. "Steiner!" he called again.

"Yes your majesty?"

"I want to know why you were chasing the kids. Now!"

"Well…you see…umm..I saw the kids out of bed and I ran up behind them and they ran so I followed them because of the order you gave earlier about not being disturbed and I-"

"Rusty, why were you chasing the kids?" Zidane asked again.

"Because they were out of bed and..and.." Steiner faltered under Zidane's intense gaze.

"Okay. They were out of bed, but did you think that maybe they were going to get a drink of water? Or they had a nightmare?" Zidane asked almost yelling.

"Well no. Not really. I didn't think-"

"That's right. You didn't think Rusty! Do you know that you scared the hell out of them?"

"No your majesty. I didn't know."

Dagger walked out of the room and stood by Zidane. "What Zidane is trying to say is that the children may have had a legitimate reason for being up. By running up behind them you, to use Zidane's words 'scared the hell out of them' and it was completely uncalled for. Next time simply call their names nicely and ask them why they are out of bed. If they're scared come and get one of us. Do not under any circumstances, chase them. Do you understand?"

"Yes your majesty." Said Steiner in a weak voice.

"You may go." Said Zidane.

When Steiner was gone Dagger turned to her husband and led him into the room. She shut the door and said "Since you were good and listened, let's finish what we started earlier on. Okay?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Zidane asked climbing into bed.

Dagger climbed  in after him. "No, not really. But I love seeing the look on your face when I even hint about it."

"Oh Dagger. I don't know what I ever did without you." He said kissing her.

"Well I know but I'm not going to say anything." Dagger said returning the kiss.

Zidane rolled over taking Dagger with him.

The next morning there was a knock at the door. Then the door burst open and in ran Derrick and Alexis. They jumped on the bed and started bouncing.

Alexis crawled over to her mother and shook her. "Mommy? Daddy?" she whispered. "Hey guys wake up!" she yelled.

Zidane groaned and rolled over. "Go play with Steiner."

"No! Not Rusty!" Derrick said.

"Well then go see Beatrix." He said. "Just leave me alone."

"Okay." They said and bounced off the bed and ran down the hall.

"Don't forget to close the-Oh never mind." Zidane got up and closed the door.

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"Beatrix! Oh Beatrix" Alexis yelled. "Where are you?"

"Is some little monkey calling me?" asked Beatrix poking her head out of the kitchen. " Good morning guys. Alexis are your parents up yet?"

"Well we ran in and woke up Daddy and he said to go play with Steiner but we said no so he said to come and see you."

"Okay." She put two bowls of porridge on the table and watched them gulp it down.

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Zidane rolled over and felt for Dagger.