Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, but the poem halfway through the chapter is mine.

As the title implies, it's a short chapter. The poem is me expressing Celes' doubts and fears without doing a corny monologue type thing. A passage of Locke's point of view is adapted from T. S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men," posted in the first chapter. Thanks to my few faithful reviewers!

This chapter contains a non-explicit adult situation.

Chapter Twenty-five: Interlude

"No luck on finding the dragons, huh?" Edgar assumed.

Relm crossed her arms. "Squat."

"Nada," Mog agreed.

Setzer nodded. "Zilch. You?"

Sabin cracked his knuckles. "One down."

"Everyone all right?" Terra asked.

"Good," Celes answered flatly.

"Yep," Locke followed a little too quickly.

"Right as rain…"

Terra raised a brow, noticing the two were avoiding eye contact at all cost. "O…kay."

"If neither the Dragon of Poison nor Thunder has been found," Gogo began, "they are either exceptionally well hidden, or it is quite possible they are located in the one place we have not looked."

"Kefka's Tower," Strago deduced.

Edgar took a breath and let it out slowly. "Then I guess it's time we get a move on…"

Everyone was silent as the burden of the impending mission bore down on them.

A final idea for postponement came to Setzer. "We'll need to stock up on supplies."

"Yes!" Edgar nearly shouted. "Good."

The king's over-enthusiasm was not lost on the others.

"The shopkeeper in Thamasa is a close friend of mine," Strago said. "I'm sure he'd give us a good deal on his wares."

Celes perked up at the mention of Thamasa. The final battle loomed on the horizon—there was no escaping that—but there was one last thing she wanted to do before she couldn't turn back.

When they landed, the group scattered to their various destinations of choice within the village. Followed by Terra, Celes slowly made her way to a small clearing where a slab of white marble stood a stark contrast against its earthy surroundings. The green-haired mage waited silently as the blonde sank to her knees before the gravestone. One of Celes' hands fidgeted with an unseen object, and the other fingered the lush grass beneath her.

It was a long while before the knight spoke. "I couldn't save you, Leo. I wasn't strong enough…but I won't fail again. It ends here, one way or the other."

She placed the object on the stone and bent down to kiss it before walking away. As Terra stepped forward to put her hand on the smooth white marble, a glint of silver caught her eye. It was Celes' Imperial ring. A realization dawned on Terra as her friend's words rang in her mind.

"One way or the other…" She sighed. "Bye, Leo. See you soon…"

After looking upon the memorial a final time, Terra slowly turned and walked back into the village.

Celes, however, did not return right away but rather wandered through the trees. She came to the oak she had once sat under almost two years before and was surprised to find Locke there, studying it. She was about to turn back, but he already noticed her.

"Hey. What's up?"

Celes looked over her shoulder once, debating whether she should just leave. Instead, she drew nearer to the oak, shrugging.

"Anything wrong?" he asked, seeing her pensive expression.

"No."

"You sure?"

"I don't know. I just have this…horrible feeling…"

"About what?" Locke pressed.

"That…some of us might not make it back…" Celes said carefully. "I…" She stopped and lowered her head.

He pulled her into a close embrace and murmured softly in her ear. "Everything's going to be alright. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

"Some things you can't control," she muttered against his shoulder.

"Like what?"

"Fate… Choices made…"

Locke pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. Her reference to Fate gave him the feeling of ice in the pit of his stomach. He put his hand on her cheek.

"We'll be fine." Tentatively, he leaned closer to whisper against her lips, "I promise."

Celes allowed the kiss that followed but was unresponsive to it, not closing her eyes nor pressing her lips against his. Even this simple gesture meant to comfort only brought her pain.

Breaking gently away, Locke bit his lower lip. Instead of pleasure, though, he felt a chill run up his spine. Caressing her cheek once and giving her a small but reassuring smile, Locke turned and walked wordlessly out of the grove.

Celes watched him go with mixed feelings. There was pain, sorrow, even slight regret, but underneath it all there was something else she didn't expect.

Fate:
Cruel the game it plays.

What the gods have foretold
Leads to doomsday,
Yet without fear, this task I take.

Fate:
Ironic the web it weaves.

To painfully realize
As I watch him leave
My will to live he hath given me.

Fate:
A thought so simple before.

My lips I do touch,
To feel alive once more.
I fear not death, but my life to lose.

Fate:
Of this I now ask why.

Why do we yearn to live
Knowing all things must die,
With Judgment to face?

Fate:
The path that awaits,

Set before my feet,
Yet I hesitate,
Trapped by ineffable qualm.

Fate:
The ultimate sacrifice.

The value of life I weigh,
Within my soul of ice,
And there the dark truth lie—

Fate:
Whatever will be will be.

At mine own hand I look,
And the crimson stain I see,
Eternal reminder, my doom to come.

Fate:
Wicked the choice I make.

((ooo))

The day grew late, and the Thamasa Inn was a welcome luxury for the warriors.

Closing the door of his room behind him, Locke slid his vest from his shoulders and absently threw it over a chair. After removing his shirt, he let himself fall back, landing on the mattress with a soft plunk. His legs dangled over the side, and his hands folded behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. Locke closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as his mind churned around a single puzzling thought.

He didn't understand the source of his unease. The way Celes had spoken earlier frightened him. It was as if she knew what was going to happen. Whatever it was, he felt the strong need to protect her from it. After all, that's what he promised her, just as he had promised Terra.

But then he kissed her.

He had always been attracted to her, yes, but long ago he vowed never to let his feelings interfere again.

He scoffed.

A vow that lasted only until he stumbled across the first girl to catch his interest.

There was a soft knock on the door. Locke lifted his head and looked towards the door, debating whether he should answer it. Reluctantly, he stood and walked sleepily to the door, flipping on the light. Opening it, he was surprised to find the object of his thoughts.

"Celes?" He noticed that, though it was late and she wore no other field gear, the Ragnarok was still with her. "What is it?"

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out, and she dropped her gaze to the ground.

"Is anything wrong?" Again, she didn't answer. "I can't read minds, you know…"

"Make love to me," she finally whispered.

Wondering if he heard her right, Locke tried to search her eyes for an answer, but she kept her gaze averted in shame.

"Cel…"

"Just once, I want to feel…alive…"

Not even chained and beaten in South Figaro had she ever looked so vulnerable. His heart ached, and the realization hit him with perfect clarity. At some point, the line separating the idea of his affection from the reality, the emotion from the response, the desire from the spasm, became blurred. The line had become so distorted that somewhere along the way, he had stopped merely protecting her and had started loving her.

And in that moment of clarity, Locke gently cupped Celes' face and brought his lips to hers.

Tongues entwined and fingers snaked into hair. A break in contact, and the thief unclasped the belt of the Ragnarok. Celes watched rather intently as he set the sword on the floor. When she continued to stare at it, Locke gently turned her head towards him with two fingers on her chin. He gave her a reassuring kiss before peeling off her shirt.

He reached for the gauntlet covering her left arm, but her hand stopped him. Meeting her nervous gaze, he whispered, "Let me." With her hesitant nod of consent, Locke unfastened the three clasps and worked the leather off the complex steel limb. Pressing the synthetic hand to his chest and taking her in his arms, he kissed her deeply, shivering at the coldness of her skin.

The world around them faded.

Locke eased Celes back, slipping down her torso to remove both their lower garments. He placed tender kisses up her stomach and chest until finally, almost panting, he came forward and held his body above hers. A bead of sweat dripped off the tip of his nose and splashed down into the hollow of her neck. Breathlessly, he uttered her name, but she held a finger to his lips, and not a word was spoken further as he brought his body down into her. Celes let out a soft cry and arched her back, pressing herself up against him, and they gripped each other's shoulders so tightly there wasn't a sliver of space between their merging bodies.

They lost themselves to each other in a dance as ageless as time, entering a state of mind that could only be described as Bliss.

Author's note: Four more chapters left! Next chapter's teaser:

Celes standing on the hill over Thamasa, shaking. "It's the Ragnarok."

Terra whispering to Celes with tears in her eyes. "I don't want to die."

The group standing at the tower's summit. "Come on, Kefka! Show yourself!"

Kefka stepping out of the shadows. "Have it your way."

Relm staring wide-eyed at Kefka. "Oh crap."