Elli felt her voice choke and her eyes swell with tears. She immediately rushed to her father, who welcomed her with his open arms. "Elli, my little girl…you have grown so much," he said as he stroked her hair.

When she released him, Elli could feel her tears run down her cheek. She wiped them away and smiled. Her father's arrival could not be more welcomed than at this moment; a moment in which she felt completely lost and alone, in great need of a parent that would hold her and stroke her hair just as her father did.

"Look at you," Elli said at last. She was of course referring to the state of her father's clothes, tattered and dirty matching his grungy face. "What have you been up to?" she asked jokingly.

Elli had expected him to continue the joke- his good nature one quality that Elli enjoyed most of her father- but instead his face became grim. The question was no longer fleeting banter; what had her father been doing these past years? Horrifying thoughts took hold of her running imagination.

"Elli," he began gently, as though he was talking to a small child, "I have a confession."

She prepared herself for the worst. "When I was captured by pirates I wasn't a prisoner for long."

"You escaped?"

He shook his head. "I joined them."

Elli's eyebrows rose in surprise but she said nothing. "I know you must be very ashamed of me. I am ashamed of myself. I understand if you want me to leave." He hung his head under the weight of his guilt.

"Leave?" Elli almost laughed. "Of course not! You're my father! I'd love you know matter what. Please don't go."

His face immediately brightened. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! Don't let me catch you thinking that again. Then I'll be angry," she put her hands on her hips in mock seriousness. Her father laughed and she joined him. "I have so much to tell you, so much has changed since you left. Mother…" Her face saddened in the memory of her mother. She hadn't brought up the subject in so long, yet it hurt just as much.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "I know. I read about the accident. But please, I know your mother wouldn't want to see you sad like this. Why don't we go for a walk."

Elli smiled weakly and nodded. She decided to push these thoughts of her mother in the back of her mind, or as back as they would let her. This should not be a time of remorse, but one of joy at seeing her father alive. She could mourn later.

Both enjoyed the walk immensely. It was refreshing to be outside, and the night was lit by a round full moon that followed Elli and her father as they walked and told each other of what had happened to them in that last several years. Elli learned that he had been promoted to first mate within a month of service. She was impressed, but not surprised as her father was both a hard worker and well mannered. Elli told of Stu, whom Owen was disappointed to learn was still in Mineral Town. "Last time I saw him, he was still a babe, bouncing and bubbly. He was a loud one, not like you Elli. It was a rare time when you cried."

"Until recently, it's been the same way."

"Until recently? Now what does this mean?" The two stopped. They had been walking at a leisurely pace, but now Owen wanted to giver his daughter his full attention.

Elli didn't know how to begin. She didn't want this light hearted time with her father to end, and she knew that if she told him too much, he would want to delve deeper into her problems and it would become a serious discussion that she would rather leave alone. "I've had relationship problems."

"Aren't you to be married soon? Did Roy not make it back to you?"

Elli looked up, startled. "How do you know Roy?"

"Tetra took over his ship," he replied. He then recounted Roy's capture and how he was set free.

"A great lad he is. You're lucky you know. He didn't care if he died, just as long as you lived."

"He wasn't lying…" The realization sunk in. Her mouth dropped open and her hand unconsciously covered it. Her pondering expression soon changed, however, and instead she began sobbing into her hands, her body beginning to tighten and curl in so her spine made a smooth curve and she squatted against the ground.

Alarmed by her sudden burst of tears, Owen at first stood silent and confused. But his paternal instincts took over and he bent down and put his arms around her and asked her what had happened.

"I thought he had been cheating on me. I thought he had lied. I was upset and angry and I yelled at him and told him I never wanted to see him again. But he wasn't lying. He saved me. I am such a fool!"

Owen guided her up so they were standing again. He hushed her comfortingly. "You are not a fool, Elli." He gently pried her hands away from her face. "You can still make things right."

"Like he would take me back after all this." Elli began wiping away her tears with the back of her sleeve, but her mood was still hopeless.

"You have forgotten the power of an apology, my dear." Elli turned to him and he put his hands on her shoulders. "I know Roy loves you. If you let him go, than I would have to agree that you are a fool." He nodded toward the beach as he told her, "Now, go".

She smiled and hugged him tight. "I've forgotten how good a father you are."

"I missed out when you were growing up; it's about time I made it up." He released her and watched her run down the dirt road.

&&&

Roy removed the coat he had been wearing before he stepped off the boat to retrieve his last bag of luggage. He was surprised how warm it was, though it was the middle of summer. With a great heave, he lifted up his suit case and brought it on the boat. The job had taken some time, as there was no one to help him this late at night, except the routine customers at the Blue Bar and Roy preferred to use help that was sober enough to stand. It was best this way, he thought. He was terrible at goodbyes- even in brighter circumstances- and he knew that if he left tomorrow farewells would indeed be necessary.

Roy looked out at ocean, feeling the salty air blow through the hair not covered by his baseball cap. The moon was beautiful tonight, round and full, the reflection on the water staring back at him like one large eye. After a moment, he turned back to take in the view of the valley. It was windy tonight, and he watched the grass dance with the air as though it was alive.

Perhaps, he decided, he was not quite ready to leave. He did not want to stay too much longer, at the risk of being noticed and launching the farewell ritual he so dreaded, but a quick walk along the beach did sound refreshing considering the long hours on board the ship. Besides, the man hired to sail the boat was not quite ready to leave anyways.

Roy informed the captain of where he was going, and set off contemplating what he would do when arrived home. Firstly, he would have to get rid anything that even remotely reminded him of Elli. Ah Elli. Could she possibly be thinking about him? It was late, so she was probably asleep. But maybe he was in one of her dreams. Though, judging by what occurred that day, she was probably dreaming about using his decapitated head as a volley ball. He rubbed his neck as though making sure his actual head was still attached.

Roy tried to rid his mind of Elli, but the cruelty of the way his mind works would not allow it. If only he could think of something else, perhaps he wouldn't feel so terrible; perhaps the remorse and ache would be lessened. He wanted to curse at the top of his lungs, but thought better of it. What would that do but awake the town and bring even more ill feelings towards him. He heard the distant sound of his boat's horn beckoning him back. It was time to leave.

He turned—

A loud grunt escaped his mouth.

Roy was struck down in a flurry of sand and billowy ribbons. He clenched in his fist a blue dress. Soft hands wrapped around his neck, a head of amber silk buried into him as though pleading for protection. And protection he would give. For he would wipe her tears away, hold her when she was alone, and run to her at the faintest cry. Roy realized now her feelings could be harsh- hatred even- and still he would come back to her awaiting her voice, even if it threw back at him a thousand curses.

They held each other, never to let go. Neither noticed the sand clinging to them nor the water that every so often reached out to them soaking their clothes. All that mattered to Elli was him, and to him her. As she lifted her head from his chest and brought it to his face, she could feel his warm breath comfortingly on her cheek. Roy whispered her name in her ear, his voice so familiar and missed. She refused to fight her tears any longer, and the emotion flowed out in rivers.

They kissed, softly at first, but deeper as their obvious longing for each other was realized. It lasted almost a minute, although it felt longer; time seemed to slow almost to a stop. After all, when their lips met, everything else was forgotten- the waves splashing against the rocky coast was silenced, seagulls no longer called out for their flock. They were alone, and it mattered not whether a minute passed, or an eternity as time was lost and irrelevant.

And it was not just time and the noise around them that disappeared as Roy and Elli kissed. As those beautiful moments passed, everything else was forgotten as well. The letter, Muffy, Elli's illness, the tape recording…all gone as though it had been washed away with the tide which was now receding down along the beach. He held her now, he gripped tighter around her waist, and – even as the kiss ended- his happiness could not be greater for tomorrow he would be married.

The End

A/N: I hoped someone out there enjoyed reading this story. I would like thank everyone for their reviews and also point out that it is possible that I will do an epilogue of their wedding, but don't quote me on that! I would also like to give a big thanks to my friend Maddy, who helped me write a large portion of the story. You go girl.

-LoZeldafreak