'You know she left you because she knew you'd never make her truly happy.' He said coldly and clearly. The words pieced Zidane's ears and he stopped his change.

'That's not true.' Zidane said defiantly but didn't carry on his charge.

'Yes it is.' Kuja folded his arms 'and you know it is.' He whispered and the dagger in Zidane's hand sagged and dropped to the floor. Both Kuja and Zidane looked at it lying there.

'It isn't true.' Zidane repeated but his voice was wavering.

'You always knew it was. That's why you never chased after her straight away. You thought it was for her own good, that she would now find happiness and you were happy to let her go because of that one fact.' Kuja carried on 'and so, when you did eventually go after her it was only because of your selfishness and not because you thought she would be happy with you.' Zidane staggered back and fell backwards, off balance. 'I know brother. I know.' Kuja said with compassion and walked to Zidane, picking up his dagger as he went.

'It's not true Zidane!' It's NOT TRUE!' Garnet screamed at Zidane and he looked at her, but it was too late for those words to mean anything, Kuja was right. She would never be happy with him, the thief that wanted a taste of the high-life. So, he didn't react when Kuja kicked him in that face, just bounced back up to be hit again, but his little mind was thinking and suddenly everything fitted into place. Freya had said how Garnet running away had been for the best and it had been. Now they both appreciated each other fully and they both knew they could never get any happier. They could never get any happier.

As Zidane came up again he raised his fist and punched Kuja straight in the face before Kuja had a chance to hit him again. Then Zidane got up quickly and kicked Kuja in the stomach, in the head and then his back as he rolled over, trying to protect himself. Zidane drew his other dagger and stabbed down at Kuja.

'She may never be truly happy, but at least she wont be beaten every night. At least her partner will love her totally and never harm her.' Zidane gritted out as his dagger went in, out, in, out of Kuja's body.

'Zidane…' Kuja said lastly as his eyes glazed over and he died. Zidane knew what he was going to say, but he didn't want to hear it, think about it. He got up and wiped his hands on the end of Kuja's robe. Then he turned to Garnet and hugged her to him. Picking up Mikoto and hugged her too, burying his head into her, and fully appreciating her.

Eiko sat next to Vivi and wrapped her arms round him. He leant into her as he cried over what Kuja had said and somehow slipped his arms round her too. Two misfits two demented misfits he thought as he hugged her.

'Whatever Kuja said, whatever he did, Vivi, look at me…' Eiko whispered to Vivi, who looked at her, his lips trembling, '…whatever he said or did Vivi, It meant nothing. Nothing you hear? He didn't kill us, you, and whatever he said, it was just to break you down, stuff to tie you up so you couldn't fight.' Eiko reassured him

'He said we were misfits. Demented misfits.' Vivi said and to his surprise found he was laughing as he said it.

'Yeah, I know!' Eiko laughed too, out of relief and shock and a million other feelings too deep to describe.

'Hey guys, lets get out of here and back to Alexandria, yeah?' Zidane called out. He had Mikoto balanced on his hip and his arm round Dagger. He looked completely at ease.

'We should bury Kuja.' Freya said. She was looking at the bloodied body with contempt. 'No matter what he did, we should let him he only bit of dignity he'll ever have by burying him.' She said and started to dig a hole with her hands. Zidane nodded and put Mikoto into Dagger's arms. Then he too helped dig a hole. Then Amarant helped and the three of them dug a hole deep enough to pass for a grave. But only Zidane dragged Kuja into the hole and only Zidane covered him up.

'Goodbye Brother.' Zidane stated once he was finished and then walked back to the rest of the group. Then they all went back to the airship and back to Alexandria.

Beatrix ran straight up to Steiner as he came off the airship, relief flooding her eyes.

'I thought you'd died. You were so long.' She said as she wrapped her arms round his bulky frame. Steiner went red with embarrassment in front of his friends. When she let go of him she turned to Zidane and Garnet and breathed another sigh of relief. 'Kuja took Mikoto by using vanish on himself and her, walked straight past the guards both times. I strongly inform you to sack them. But I'm so happy you got her back!' she said and took Mikoto from Zidane's arms and hugged her. Mikoto immediately tried to reach back at Zidane again. Garnet smiled at her daughter and at her husband, slipping her hand into his. He looked down at her and smiled back. We're home. He seemed to say with his eyes and leant down to kiss her properly for the first time in over two years…

…Two years later…

'That was Eiko, just saying how Vivi and her are travelling to Madain Sari soon and was wondering if I would want to go.' Garnet said as she walked back into the room to see Mikoto and Zidane doing a very easy jigsaw. Zidane looked up from watching Mikoto fit a piece of the puzzle together.

'Do you want to?' he asked and Garnet shook her head.

'I'll go later on in the year. I'll take Mikoto, I don't want her not to know that place. What do you think?' Zidane smiled up at her, then jumped up next to her

'As long as you phone me every day.' He said and kissed her. Garnet smiled at him and walked out the room again…

Later, when Mikoto was playing with the kids in Alexandria, so she would be accepted by Alexandria and her people and so she felt completely at home there, Zidane found Garnet in the throne room, looking over maps of the continent.