A/N: Keep reviewing! I'm addicted to reviews! Here's the third chapter, finally! One more to come… beta-read by Myshu, thank you!

Chapter three – Return of the King

She stroked his hair, her face in a painful grimace. "I'm sorry," she whispered. He looked up at her. She let go of him and walked to the edge of the pavement, where the water hit. She looked at the grand castle before her. Zidane stood a few feet behind her, his head hung low. His whole body ached as if he had just been squished by a chocobo. Then the realisation came to mind… She had accepted her fate. New tears appeared in his eyes but he wiped them away. She had accepted it. There was nothing to do about it… He had to keep calm. He had to focus. His mind was empty. He saw how his feet and arms started moving in slow-motion. His mindless body moved beside her. A smile, although sad, had formed on her face. She looked at him. His courage sank to his toes. He looked down at them to try and recover it.

"When I am gone, someone has to take my place."

He lifted his head swiftly. "Someone has to rule over Alexandria and make sure that my people are well protected." He shook his head.

"You're thinking far too far ahead!" He stamped his feet. Garnet closed her eyes.

"There isn't much time."

Zidane could do nothing but stare motionless into the distance. Garnet stared at her feet. "Point is, there is no one who can take my place. No one… Except you." He turned his head to her swiftly. She looked up at him. "Zidane," she said with a slight enthusiasm and urge in her voice, "I have never ever felt this way for anyone in my life." She took his hands hastily. "The time we have spent together was the best of my life!" He shook his head, unable to take it all. She pulled him closer before he could step back. "Zidane! I love you. I LOVE you! If I were to marry and secure Alexandria's future, it would be with you. If not with you, then with none and Alexandria will perish. Uncle Cid now finally sees this." She embraced him. "Zidane… Will you become my king?" Torn apart by his feelings he tried to understand what she just asked him. The burden she had just placed on him almost became too much to bear. He pulled back slowly and looked in her calm eyes. "D-Dagger… I…"

She turned around. "It's alright. Please consider it.… But don't think too long…" She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. He nodded and walked away without knowing where to go. His mind was racing.

A king… He? Zidane? A thief…? How could he ever, ever take such a great responsibility? How could she put this weight on his shoulders? He loved Garnet with all his heart, but he had never really thought it through. He had never expected to marry her. And he had certainly never thought about the consequences of their possible marriage; to receive a status he did not long for. He loved his freedom. He loved to make his own choices and decisions. He couldn't imagine himself sitting on a throne with fancy clothes, talking to the citizens of Alexandria. He couldn't see himself living a posh life in the castle or any of the obligations that come with the monarchy.

He started running. He was panicking, sweating heavily. He arrived at the boat to take him to the other side breathing heavily. The ferryman eyed him suspiciously and seemed to disapprove of Zidane being on his little boat.

As soon as the boat brushed against the shore, Zidane hopped off and ran. He ran to the alleyway where Ruby's little theatre was. He entered it, nearly tripping over Blank.

"Hey bro, watch it!" Blank said as he pushed Zidane back. He frowned as he noticed the state Zidane was in. "What's happened?"

Zidane stared at his feet, his arms hanging weakly by his side. Blank shook his head and looked around the room. Ruby was in the back selecting new material for her upcoming show. A curious couple was staring at the two of them from their table. Blank tapped his friend on his shoulder and grabbed his arm, guiding him to a private area. "Well? Spit it!"

Zidane remained silent as he searched for the right words.

"G-Garnet…" He paused. "Yeah? What about her?"

"Well… She…She…"

"Yes…"

Zidane cursed himself. Why was it so hard? He had never experienced his feelings in this way before. In his thoughts he bitch-slapped himself. He forced himself to look up at Blank. Come on Zidane, don't be such a coward. Just say it. "She wants me to marry her." Blank's eyes lit up. He made gestures in the air. "That's great news! You got your bird alright!" The smile on his face disappeared as he saw Zidane's straight face.

"Not good?"

Zidane sighed. "That's not all…"

He forced his eyes to remain dry. He wouldn't cry in front of his Tantalus brother.

"She's very ill, Blank."

Damn. Too late. Tears sprung in his eyes. "She's… She will most certainly die." Zidane smiled bitterly. Blank's mouth fell open. "It's not… You are kidding, right?" Zidane shook his head slowly. "Damn…" Blank let himself fall against the wall.

"She's going to die, and there's nothing I can do!" Zidane punched the wall. "Do you know how that feels?" He eyed Blank, who remained silent. "It is as if the one and only person you love with every inch of your body is hanging on a cliff and you try to reach her but you're one hand short." He sobbed and punched the wall again, causing a furious Ruby to emerge from the backroom.

"What on earth is going on in here!"

She ran toward them, not noticing the tense atmosphere around them. "Blank! What-" She held still when she noticed Zidane's wet face and the tears that were still locked in his eyes. Silenced for a moment, she didn't know what to say or what to do. She spun around, obviously searching for a way out or anything to say. She scratched her head and looked back at Zidane. "Zidane… What's wrong?" Ruby had really turned into a woman the past few years. She had left her adolescence behind her, finally capable of rational conversations and actions. She eyed Blank and he bit his lip. She joined him. Blank felt so sorry for his friend. Zidane was unable to say anything. Blank took Ruby's hands and looked at her, answering for Zidane.

"Queen Garnet is very ill. She is not going to make it… She's dying…" he whispered, and Ruby let out a gasp. She stared at Zidane in horror. "I'm so sorry! I-I didn't know!" Zidane shook his head.

"It's alright Ruby." He wiped his tears. "I feel so… So lost." Ruby placed her hands on his shoulders and hugged him. He closed his eyes during their embrace; a warmth flowing from him to her. It filled him with new hope. She ended their embrace and looked back at Blank. He took her left hand and squeezed it gently. They had been together for nearly four years now. Ruby looked at Zidane.

"But how…?" Her voice trembled.

Zidane swallowed. "The Eidolons… You know? That she had been carrying?" Ruby and Blank nodded simultaneously. "Well, apparently they inflict a disease on the Summoner." He shook his head. Why had no one ever found out about it? He didn't understand. "Some kind of virus. No one knows what it is exactly… And there is no cure…" He frowned and tried to reassemble his courage to go on. "It's tearing her apart." He looked at them. "But she's so strong… No one could ever notice." New tears appeared in his eyes. He ignored them and brought his hand to his forehead, shaking his head. Ruby touched his arm. "And now… She had asked me to marry her. A marriage of love… And despair. For the sake of Alexandria and, no doubt, the whole of Gaia! She will only marry me. If I say 'no,' she shall not marry at all and Alexandria will be doomed." He raised his arms and turned around. He hung his head. "How can she ask me to do this?" Blank let go of Ruby and grabbed Zidane's shoulder.

"Hold on bro… She loves you. You make it sound as if she is marrying you solemnly because she wants to protect her people. She wants to marry you and no one else, because she loves you. Don't be so silly and marry her. You love her, she loves you… It's the only right thing to do!"

Zidane looked at him. "Yes of course… But… It would mean that I am to become king. It will mean that I will have to bury my wife…" He sounded so bitter. Blank took both of Zidane's shoulders, forcing him to look at him.

"Zidane, listen. I know that it's hard, but you have to follow your heart. You belong with her. You have to be there when she… Well… You are in love with one another. Isn't marrying the most natural thing to do?" Zidane kept silent. "You shouldn't be so selfish. You two would have gotten married anyway." Zidane tried to speak, but Blank continued, "The only difference is that she would have continued to rule the country. Now, things are a little different. But still, you have to rely on your heart."

"But-"

"You love her with all your heart, right?"

"Yes but-"

"She is the love of your life and you're saying that you don't want to marry her?"

"It's not that simple."

Zidane leaned against the wall. Finally, he was going to say what really bothered him. Of course he loved Garnet and he wanted to marry her badly but…

"Blank…" He looked at his friend, tears in his eyes. "She's going to die. I don't know if I can cope with that… I'm so… scared…" He sobbed. "I-I'm not ready to let her go. I've loved her for so long and now that we're finally together she's slipping right past my fingers." Ruby put her arm around his shoulder to comfort him. It was a grey day.

He twitched as he heard her coughing. He and Beatrix were standing in front of Garnet's room.

"My queen?"

Beatrix knocked on the door. Garnet gave a weak reply. Beatrix turned to Zidane. Pity written on her face. Zidane nodded at her sadly and entered the room. He was startled by what he saw. Garnet was lying in her bed, her face as pale as snow. Her eyes were red and she seemed drained.

"Oh Zidane!" She sat up. "I'm sorry, I was just resting." She smiled tiredly. He walked to her as she tried to get out of bed. She managed to stay on her feet for two seconds and then she fell forward, fortunately caught by Zidane. "Watch out!" Garnet put her arms around his neck. "I can't even stand." She started sobbing silently. He stroked her hair. "You should get back in bed." Garnet nodded and he helped her get back in. He tucked her in and took her slender hand. She brushed her tears away and tried to smile. They stared at each other silently for a while. Then he looked down. "Garnet… I'm so sorry. I've never been there for you." Indignant she lifted his chin. "What do you mean? You were always there for me. If I ever needed you, you would come running straight away. You saved my life." He took her hand and raised it to his cheek. "But I failed you. I couldn't save you…"

"You have not failed me. A power greater than the power you or anyone could ever possess has now decided for me. I must accept it. So do you, and all of Gaia with you."

He looked at her. She had become so wise. She seemed at ease and she was smiling at him. He kneeled down before her and took her right hand. "Dagger… I wish to be by your side… for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part." She smiled and he kissed her hand.