Cid stared down at her with a blank look on his face.

"Why on earth would you want to find her?" Lia sighed. She knew he would ask her something like that.

"I have my reasons 'kay?" She asked. Cid shrugged.

"You don't have to be so rude." He turned around and headed back towards the ice cream shop to drop of the package.

"Why not?" Lia asked, following after Cid.

"Never mind kid, just go wait by the truck."

"Fine," Lia said with an exasperated sigh. She made the long walk back to the truck slowly. She tried not to think about Zeke, but all the happy memories rushed through her mind.

If she weren't out in public where people would ask her questions she couldn't answer right then she would have broken down and cried in the middle of the street.

His smile…his laugh…his scent. Everything was him…him…him and there was no way she could forget it.

A funny thing love was.

"Now," Cid said walking up behind her, "Why do you want to look for your mum?" Lia twitched.

"You know she's my mom?" Lia asked, surprised.

"I know a lot of things," Cid said in a deep voice. If Lia were taller she would've slapped him.

"Do you know where to start looking?" Cid smirked.

"Hollow Bastion." Lia cocked her head to one side. She didn't understand. Wasn't Radiant garden and Hollow Bastion one and the same?

"But…" she said, "Aren't we in Hollow Bastion?"

"Yes," Cid said, "in a manner of speaking."

"Then why…?" Cid sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"You'll understand in time Lia," he said leading her towards the truck, "now, let's start looking."

Lia decided to sit in the cab of the truck with Cid, since a box of ice cream now occupied her spot in the back. The cab reeked of cigarettes, even though he had sworn to have given them up years ago. She peered out the grimy window at Hollow Castle, where her mother was supposed to be lurking. Folding her arms as a shiver ran up her spine, she wondered if her mother would be happy to see her or not. She had been having troubles getting back on her feet after Sora defeated her, and it wasn't exactly a boost to your pride to have a fourteen-year-old boy defeat you in battle, keyblade or no.

Cid grunted and switched on his ancient car radio. The faint crackling of a country tune filled the awkward silence in the cab. As the castle began to loom over them, Lia noticed in true detail how much the castle was falling apart.

"Ugly old thing, ain't it? Once we get rid of all the Heartless roostin' around here, this thing is set for demolition." he grinned. "And it's about time, too!"

"Are you coming in there with me?"

Cid chewed on his toothpick, obviously deciding what to say. "I'll think about it." he said after awhile.

Lia sighed, leaning on the door with her head propped up on her arm. "Great, thanks."

Cid glanced over at her as she ran her hand through her long-black hair absently. Zeke sure is a lucky kid to have snagged a girl like her. He thought; then choked as he realized what he was thinking. She's only seventeen for God's sake, Cid. Pull your thoughts together! You're too old. He scratched his nose with his thumb, trying to focus on driving and driving only.

Lia didn't notice Cid's actions. Her gray eyes were distant, her thoughts drifting once again to Zeke. What would he do if their positions were switched? He would have gone out by himself to find me, probably. She wondered if he was looking for her now, as a Heartless. Sora had told her the story about how he had found Kairi when he had been a Heartless. Lia wondered if Zeke's heart was as strong as his was.

They didn't speak until Cid came to a stop outside the entrance to Hollow Castle. They got out of the truck and looked around. "Where are all the Heartless?" Lia asked, looking around.

"It's high noon. They don't come out durin' this time, not enough shadow for their likin'. They're still there though, lurkin' in whatever shadow they can find."

Lia inhaled and walked up to the door. "Maleficent!" she called, opening the door which creaked in protest upon her intrusion. "Mother, It's me... Lia!"

She summoned her staff in case Heartless were there waiting for her. She gathered her nerves and entered Maleficent's castle.