Thanks to all those that reviewed, but who said I was done? Just a newbie forgetting to mention that there would be more than one chapter, sorry.

Chapter 2

Months passed, and the adventurers grew stronger, but also they grew weary of the constant battling. Lloyd, Sheena, Zelos, and Raine had beaten so many monsters into the ground they now saw them avoiding the group. They had just exited the Temple of Earth. Wanting a good challenge they had been facing the numerous Dragons that resided there. Sheena and Lloyd talked as they traveled. He walked as she rode on Noishe.

"Wow, Noishe really seems to like you. I know you've been around for a while, but it can take years for him to be comfortable with a new person." Lloyd commented. Sheena smiled lightly from atop the large pet.

"Maybe it is because you showed so much trust in me Lloyd."

"Of course I'm going to trust you. You're my friend."

"But I wasn't when we first met. We were enemies. I tried to kill Colette. "

"That's true, but you helped us and all those people at the ranch and from Luin." Sheena blushed, remembering Luin's appreciation. Lloyd, Raine, and herself had all had statues erected in their honor.

"I didn't do that much. You did a lot more than I did, Lloyd." He shook his head and they continued on in silence. When they stopped to rest, the sun had already started to disappear below the horizon. Suddenly struck by inspiration, Sheena grabbed Genis's cooking supplies.

"I'll cook tonight. I'll make a good Mizuho recipe. It's called Miso stew."

"That's sounds good Sheena. I can't wait to try it." Lloyd said. Sheena smiled back. She hoped he would like it; she was making it for him. She got to work quickly as the others set up camp for the night. Presea, Colette, and the Professor set up their sleeping rolls next to each other while Regal, Genis, and Zelos grouped on the other side of the fire. Lloyd helped Sheena as much as he could, but he couldn't do much, considering his cooking skills didn't reach far beyond sandwiches.

Sheena giggled as Lloyd got a little too close to the fire and yelped in surprise. Stirring the contents of the pot she watched him. Despite being younger than her he was really mature…sometimes. Plus, he was kind of cute.

"Wait, what am I thinking? I can't feel that way about Lloyd. We're friends, that's all…Or is it?" Sheena went silent, thinking about her feelings for the swordsman.

Meanwhile, Lloyd was having trouble concentrating as well. He couldn't keep his eyes off Sheena. She was really pretty, and when he had seen her in that outfit at the dinner party, he had been so nervous that he had almost instantly asked to go back down. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but wasn't sure if it would be appropriate. Zelos seemed to like her a lot and Lloyd didn't want to interfere if there was something.

Still, she was always on his mind. In battles he always teamed up with her so he could protect her. They could almost predict each other's moves. He kept burning himself next to the fire because Sheena kept breaking his concentration.

Random thoughts suddenly entered Lloyd's mind. Fire reminded him of Efreet and Efreet was a summon spirit. Another summon spirit was Volt.

FLASHBACK

Lloyd picked himself up and shook his head clear. The blast of lightning had come a little too close for his comfort. Looking up, he saw Volt charging up a ball of energy before him. Seeing the target of Volt's electricity, Lloyd gasped. Sheena was vulnerable and there was no way he could reach her in time.

The lightning struck out and Lloyd watched as the small summon spirit, Corrine, jumped in front of Sheena and blocked the blast. Before Volt could fully recover, Lloyd was on his feet and running toward the sobbing woman. Unsheathing his swords as he ran, he knew that he would do the same thing Corrine had done for Sheena if it came to it.

Volt had circled around and was attempting to attack Sheena again. Lloyd leaped in front of the assault, deflecting it with his swords.

"Sheena, subdue Volt by force. Don't let Corrine's effort go to waste." He said to the summoner. Not hearing him, she continued to cry over the spot where Corrine had disappeared. Volt moved again and launched another attack but was countered again by Lloyd.

"Please Sheena. Don't let this be like last time. You can do it. I believe in you!"
END FLASHBACK

They had made the pact with Volt, and with many other summon spirits since then. Lloyd still felt, no, knew, that he would sacrifice himself for her. He would do anything for her.