Author's note: I'm not totally certain about this chapter, but as I wrote this all together I figured I should post it all together. It's a tad sappy. Well, very sappy. If you liked the ending from the last chapter, feel free to stick with that one. Otherwise, hope you like this chapter. :)

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It was sometime later that Zelos made a quip in private to Raine about Kratos. Raine didn't catch on at first, but soon she realized that the redhead knew what had happened.

"How could you-- you were listening, weren't you!" Raine was quite angry to have an eavesdropper.

"Raine, Raine, Raine," Zelos said slyly. "A word of advice: If you want to keep something like that private, try not making so much noise in the morning, with us waiting outside. And with your window open."

Raine was dumbfounded for a moment, but soon she got over her embarassement and saw the humor in it. She and Zelos made a few more snarky comments about the event before cutting their conversation off.

Raine was at first upset that everyone knew about the affair, but then she was almost relieved. It meant that she had less to explain when her stomach started to bulge. Everyone was happy for her, even Lloyd who decided that this somehow made her his stepmother. She had scolded him for improper use of a term, but was delighted to have his approval. She'd been worried that he wouldn't look up to her anymore, or even worse, that he woudn't like her anymore. One thing Raine had learned from all of this was to cherish her friends.

The months passed and Raine, alone in a cabin near Altessa's, prepared for the new arrival. It was the first time she'd ever been so excited about something new. She read texts, both modern and ancient, about childrearing, and bought beautifully colored clothing. She wasn't certain about the gender so she bought all colors. Lloyd begged her to stay away from pink, "just incase," but Zelos' words made her reconsider the color.

"Real men wear pink," he stated, suave as ever.

Hey, if a girly looking pretty boy can pull it off and still look manly, anyone could. Lloyd wasn't convinced.

This is partly why he was quite relieved when Raine delivered a healthy baby girl. She named her daughter Karis, a conglamoration of her, Kratos' and Genis' names. She was born with a full head of white hair that would later have dark reddish streaks.

Raine was quite content in her life. She would visit Genis at the Academy once a week, and saw Sheena frequently, as Mizuho was so close. She saw Zelos very often as well, normally with Sheena. The two had finally put their fighting behind them. They would be getting married soon.

Lloyd and Collette visited as often as they could. Those two also planned to wed but decided to wait a little while longer. Collette wanted to finish her schooling first, and Lloyd decided to apprentice under Dirk until the two could marry. Whenever he was free he'd see Collette, and sometimes they'd take a weekend out to see Raine and baby Karis. Lloyd regretted not seeing them more. He was a big brother after all. He even suggested moving his training to Altessa's at one point, but as that would move him further from Collette, Raine refused.

She was happy there, by herself. She had lost the man she loved but at least she had a beautiful, wonderful reminder of him.

Then one day she got news of a commotion near Palmacosta. An angel had been spotted, they said. Raine didn't dare hope it was Kratos, but her mind would get the better of her. Hours alone, studying and caring for her one year old daughter caused her to start hoping he was really back.

As days turned into a week, Raine gave up hope. She hadn't heard anything else about this angel, and no one had contacted her. She went to bed sad and lonely, kissing her sleeping child on the forehead and opening a window in her room to the cool night air.

Early in the morning, slightly before dawn, Raine awoke to sounds outside her window. She couldn't pinpoint them at first but then realized they were foot prints. The first thing she did was check on her daughter. Karis would probably sleep another hour or so if left alone, so she didn't disturb her. Instead, she went to the door, staff in hand. She opened it.

There in front of her stood her long, lost seraphim. His hair was longer and his clothes were obviously new. He looked as if he had been about to knock on the door and her opening it had startled him. The two just stared for a long time.

Then, as if on cue, they embraced.

It lasted for near an eternity, as far as Raine could tell. She broke it only to look at him. She wanted to say something but couldn't think of what to say. Should she ask him how he got back? Why he came back? Where he's been this whole week? If he's seen Lloyd? If he knows about...

"Raine," Kratos started, ceasing her internal dialogue. "I... I didn't want to be there. After I was there for a little while I realized that I wasn't ready to give up on this world yet. My story isn't over yet. Our story isn't over yet. I wanted to be back here. It took so damn long just to get back!"

He was holding her tightly. His normal composure was leaving him and his emotions were showing.

"Dirk and Lloyd came to Palmacosta and took me home. I wasn't... I was in pretty bad shape. But the healers in Iselia helped a lot." He was starting to loosen his grip, starting to speak normally again.

"I was unconscious for a good while. When I came to, they told me about you. Told me you..." He stopped. He wasn't exactly certain how to phrase this.

"They told you about Karis," Raine completed it for him.

His eyes, wide with excitement and hope, met hers.

"Can I see her?"

She nodded and took his hand, leading him to their sleeping daughter's crib. She motioned for him to be silent. As he gazed down at his young child, Kratos continued holding Raine's hand. He eventually pulled her close, holding her near to him and watching sweet Karis until she woke up...