Huzzah for the huge update! Last chapter was short. You deserve more bishie goodness.

Warning: This is where the slash is more than implied. And next chapter the rating may jump.

I left. I don't know why. Maybe it was to teach him a lesson of some kind, maybe just calm down. How could I have even thought of caring about him? I knew he wouldn't reciprocate.

Still, could I leave him alone in such a place? He'd already proven that he wouldn't be alright on his own, but maybe it was because of what I'd done, not because of me...

I'd been trudging along rather than flying and my feet were getting cold. I thought I might either turn around or freeze.

As I neared the cave I got a terrible gut feeling. It was confirmed when I saw Albert at the mercy of a pair of creatures. I used the Dragoon Buster on them and that was it.

"Albert?" I asked kneeling beside him. He was out cold and blood trickled from his head. I carried him back inside.

The fire was getting low and so was the fuel, but I had to look after Albert first. He wasn't bleeding too badly and he seemed basically alright. I left him to sleep and went out to get more fuel.

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I was woken by someone whispering my name in my ear. It took a few seconds to realize who it was.

"Lloyd?" Albert was being fairly cautious. "Are you awake?"

I turned to face him. His hair had fallen into disarray from everything that had happened and he had his armor off to sleep.

"Close enough. Why?" I was cautious myself, wondering how close his spear was.

"I..." He sighed. "I wanted to appologize. I've been completely horrible and..." Another sigh, "And I shouldn't have been so... so pathetic. But I really did love him. I guess I'll just have to stop living in this time warp and move past it. Move past him..."

He trailed off and looked towards the fire, head bowed. I began massaging his shoulders. He relaxed against me and leaned back.

"You're good..." He was barely audiable. We moved back from the fire a bit and he turned and kissed me. Gingerly at first then more passionately.

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"This was worth it." I was lying back, eyes fluttering between open and closed, hair a mess and throughly content.

"After all I've put you through, it's the least I could do." Albert lay against my chest, arms around me.

"You couldn't have done anymore I don't think." I stroked his back softly.

He yawned, ever so slightly, and went back to sleep. My eyes fluttered closed and I drifted off myself.

Okay, no rating jump. Oh, and lines (***************) are Use your Imagination lines. Anyway, next chapter is probably the last.