A/N: Ok, hopefully this chapter is better. Thank you to all who reviewed…but once again…I must say that the next chapter will be better. I had to raise the ratings a bit because…well you'll see.

Chapter 2 - The Way Back Home

"ZIDANE?!"

After what seemed like a lifetime of walking, Zidane had finally reached Lindlum and was nearly unconscious at the foot of the Tantalus' doorstep. Blank had heard a thump outside and opened the door to find his best friend in a deathly state.

Zidane just looked up at him for a couple of seconds before passing out. Blank instantly carried him over to the couch and summoned Ruby to them.

Although Ruby loved Alexandria, her love for Blank far surpassed it. Sure they fought a lot, but Blank and Ruby couldn't live without each other. She knew how important Tantalus was to Blank, even more than Alexandria was to her. Anyway, what she really wanted to keep was her theater, which Ruby could easily set up in Lindblum.

Ruby was just carrying over warm clothes when Zidane stirred. Placing the clothes on his forehead, Ruby stared into his slightly parted eyes.

"Where…" Zidane began, but quickly stopped when he was reminded of the splintering pain he possessed in his throat.

"Now, now, lil' ol' Zidane. Don't go tryin' tuh make yourself speak," Ruby whispered.

Staring aimlessly off, once again, he was reminded of why he was here. Zidane mouthed 'Dagger' before drifting off into a deep sleep.

*****

Zidane had slept for nearly two days. When he a woke, Ruby nursed him back to health as a mother does to a sickly baby. The rest of the Tantalus gang had paid Zidane their tributes by visiting him everyday and offering him wholesome company.

As the weeks progressed, Zidane was refilled with life. He had told his companions why he had stayed behind after defeating Necron and also why he was so eager to return to Alexandria.

"I guess that explains why you have been harassing us with questions of when we are going to go to Alexandria next. Princess Garnet is pretty hot, but I don't think I would risk my life just to see her again," Cinna said.

"Like I said, I stayed behind to try to save Kuja," Zidane began. "I could've lived peacefully at any of the cities on the continent. Well, I guess peacefully is the wrong word to describe it. I would have been at peace with all of my surroundings, but my heart would be eating away at my soul."

Baku began to laugh hysterically and said, "Great Gods, Zidane! You always have gone out of your way to get the ladies!"

Now, slightly frustrated, Zidane said, "It's not like that! Dagger is everything to me. She is the air I breath, the food I eat, the water I drink. When I'm not with her, I feel suffocated and starved. I need her…"

Cinna, Marcus, and Baku began to laugh again.

"Blank knows what I mean," Zidane mumbled, rather loudly.

Blank was standing in the corner with his arms crossed and his eyes staring at the ground. He shifted uncomfortably as Zidane addressed his name.

"Nah," Marcus said, "Blank isn't in love or anything! He and Ruby are just fuck buddies!"

Another roar of laughter burst from the three naïve men.

Now it was Blank's turn to get mad. With his face bright red, he yelled, "Don't you ever say that that is all Ruby is to me! She isn't some low-class, cheap-skate whore! I guess now would be a good time to say that--" he hesitated a moment to be sure he had their attention, "that we're getting married!"

Baku, Marcus, and Cinna's faces turned white. This was truly a once in a life time thing, Zidane thought. He wasn't very surprised to hear this announcement, for he had long suspected it from seeing them together. The way they looked at one another, spoke, touched. It was truly a remarkable sight to see two beings so similar and in sync yet so different.

Smiling smugly to himself, Zidane snuck out of the room to escape any further engagements of harassment. Although the attention was turned toward Blank, he knew that he would somehow get dragged into it. As much as Baku and Cinna would want to deny it, foreseeing this marriage was wide open to them.

Zidane climbed to the roof of the Tantalus hideout and stared off into the heavens. Still smiling, he thought of what it would be like to be married to Dagger. To be able to wake up in the morning and put his arm around her. To be able to eat a meal with her. To be able to walk through a park with her or go to the theater.

The theater…

*****

The next day Zidane summoned the thieves to propose an idea he had. Although this idea seemed extremely selfish, Tantalus would gain something from it.

As everybody took their seats, Zidane began his speech, "Ok, you guys, now please hear me out. I know this is a lot to ask for, but I would really appreciate it. We all know that it is time for Lindblum to perform another play for Alexandria. This play I'm thinking of could really reel in a lot of money, that is if nothing is screwed up. Now I was thinking that we could do a love story…"

*****

After the meeting Baku, Marcus, and Cinna all approached Zidane to apologize for their crude behavior the previous night.

"No, man, don't worry about it. A few years ago I would have been the same if it were you," Zidane reassured.

"Thanks," Baku replied. "So do you really think this is going to work?"

A moment of silence filled the room. Finally Zidane muttered, more to himself than to Baku, "Yes, I know it will."

A/N: Please don't flame me for making Baku, Marcus, and Cinna such asses! For some reason, I never really liked them in the game. I know nothing really happened in this chapter, but that's because I'm saving all the lovey stuff for the next chapter. Oh man, I can't wait to write it *Jumps up and down*…wow…I need to get a life :P

Please R&R!