Hey everyone! Thanks for all the reviews! I appreciate them all so much! I'm sorry it took so long to update, I had writer's block half the time and was on vacation. Anyways, enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia or any of the characters

Lloyd paced up and down the length of the small room. Finally becoming aggravated by the swordsman's action, Raine cried out," Lloyd! Stop pacing, please." Lloyd looked up at her.

"…Sorry." Lloyd mumbled in a voice hardly audible. He had not meant to bother anyone; it's just that he was worried about the angel lying in the bed, completely unconscious. Another reason for the pacing was that Lloyd was unsure of what had really happened. Had Colette fainted because he tried to kiss her? Was it because the shock had overwhelmed her and caused her to be in her current condition? Lloyd shook his head, tears threatening to flow out of his chocolate-brown eyes. A moment later, a small figure appeared in the doorway.

"I brought the cold water and towels," Presea spoke as she walked into the room and stood beside Raine.

"Thank you, place it on the nightstand over there." Raine gestured to the small table that stood beside Colette's bed. Presea quickly complied and placed the tray on the small table. She then placed the cool towel on the angel's forehead. Noticing that Lloyd looked very worried, she walked over to him and said,

"Lloyd, there is no need to worry. Raine said that Colette is going to be fine – she just fainted from overexerting herself when she had a fever." Lloyd stared at Presea. He knew that the words she spoke were in fact the truth, but there was something that was restraining his mind from believing it. When Presea noticed that Lloyd wasn't answering, she took him by the arm and led him outside.

"W-where are we going?" Lloyd asked, as he was being led further and further away from Colette's room.

"You will see in a minute," Presea simply answered. A few minutes later, the two were standing outside a large gift shop. "If you buy something for Colette when she wakes up, she'll be really happy and know that you care. Then you'll probably feel better about what had happened." Lloyd grinned.

"Thanks Presea," Lloyd answered before he raced into the shop. Presea began smiling to herself before she headed in the opposite direction.

Colette already likes you silly… you two just need a small push to get started in the right direction. Presea then chuckled quietly. It is funny how everyone knows that the two of them like each other… everyone but themselves.

As Lloyd walked through the doorway of the shop, he couldn't help but feel amazed. On either side of him, there were shelves of merchandise piled high. Small stuffed animals, cards, toys, books, flowers, and nearly anything you could think of when it came to giving a gift to someone dear to you. After about five minutes of eyeing the items of sale and wondering what Colette would like, he stumbled upon the jewelry section. There were many things that he was sure Colette would really like, but one item caught his attention – a small gold heart-shaped locket that was small enough to be made into a charm if he made some minor adjustments. Lloyd smiled; this would be perfect for the bracelet that Colette and I made together! "Excuse me," Lloyd called out to the attendant working at the counter.

"Yes, sir?" The attendant replied. She was a young woman (about 17) and had orange hair and a very warm disposition.

"Uh… I was wondering if I could see this particular item here," Lloyd said as he gestured to the locket. As the attendant took out her keys to unlock the display case, Lloyd couldn't help but notice that the girl kept staring at him.

"This one?"

"Yeah, how much is it?"

"Well," the attendant replied. "Normally 5,000 gald but for you, 2,500." The girl began batting her eyelashes and even managed to squeeze a wink in between.

Shoot! Where's Zelos when you need him? Lloyd thought as the attendant began to edge closer and closer to Lloyd's face. As if on cue, the redheaded Chosen walked through the door and began walking in Lloyd's direction. I'm saved!

"Hey Lloyd!" Zelos cried as he began taking long strides to Lloyd.

"Hey Zelos, have you met uh…" Lloyd stuttered as he pointed to the girl.

"Kohana!" the attendant cried.

"Uh, yes! Kohana!" Lloyd said as he forced a smile.

"Hey, I haven't seen this hunny before," Zelos replied as he leaned on the counter and began his usual flirting routine.

"Yeah well, I have to go, so…" Lloyd began. He quickly placed the money on the counter, grabbed the locket and ran - hoping that Zelos would keep Kohana away from him.

Raine sighed; treating people was a lot of hard work. "You've been working really hard, why don't you just take a small break?" Sheena suggested. "Colette's gonna be okay now." Raine shot Sheena a thankful look and slumped into the small armchair that was placed next to the door. It was true – Colette's face was no longer as red as it was before and her breathing was much more even now.

"Professor!" Lloyd cried as he burst in through the doorway. "Is Colette alright?" He leaned against the wall for support, panting.

"Yeah, she's going to be okay," Sheena replied as she turned her attention to Colette. Suddenly, Colette's hand began to move slightly and her eyes began to open. Lloyd quickly scrambled to his feet and ran to Colette's side. Raine laughed.

"Sheena, let's leave these two lovebirds alone," Raine said teasingly as she and Sheena left the room. Lloyd blushed and turned his attention to Colette. Her eyes were now fully opened, the blue eyes shining brightly at the sight of the swordsman leaning over her bed.

"Colette!" Lloyd cried as he hugged Colette fiercely.

"Lloyd, I-" Colette began before Lloyd cut the embrace short and held her at an arms-distance.

"I was so worried about you… so worried," Lloyd said as small tears began forming in his eyes. Colette's eyes grew wide in amazement- Lloyd only once shed a tear in his entire life. Colette gazed at Lloyd as a memory from her childhood began to play in her mind…

Begin flashback

"Alright class, what day is it?" Raine asked her class.

"Mother's Day!" Everyone cried in unison, everyone that is, but a certain young boy in red. Raine smiled, overjoyed by her class's enthusiasm.

"Since it is Mother's Day," Raine began," We will all be making Mother's Day cards! Everything you need – paper, scissors, glue, tape, and miscellaneous items are on the back table." Raine walked over to her desk and sat down, not noticing that Lloyd was the only student who wasn't busying him or herself with the making of Mother's Day cards.

Colette, who was overexcited, grabbed a whole bunch of supplies (more than enough for 3 cards really) and sat next to Lloyd. "Oops… it looks like I've taken too much!" Colette said, a huge grin on her face. "Lloyd, why don't you take some and make a card for your mother?" Without meaning to, Colette had done it – she had hurt Lloyd emotionally. It wasn't so much that her words were mean or cruel or anything, it was more a long the lines of the fact that Lloyd didn't have a mother. It was quite hard for Lloyd really – seeing everyone getting picked up by their mothers and him having to walk through the forest alone, living with a father while others had mothers and fathers, and etc…

Although Lloyd's mother had died while he was still a mere toddler barely capable of retaining memory, he felt that something in his life was missing… something, like a mother. Lloyd abruptly stood up from his seat and dashed out of the classroom and out the school building. Colette made a small noise, clearly confused at what had happened. Although she was confused, she knew one thing – that her friend was in need of comforting. "Professor! Professor Raine!" Colette cried out as she thrust her hand in the air.

Looking up from her desk, Raine answered, "Yes Colette?"

"Um, uh, you see…" Colette stammered. "Uh, I… gotta go!" Before Raine could reply, Colette had raced outside. "Now, where can I find Lloyd?" Colette wondered out loud. As she began walking outside around the school, Colette could hear heavy breathing. Following the source of the sound, Colette found Lloyd sitting on the floor all scrunched up. "Lloyd?"

Lloyd looked up at Colette, visible tears sitting on the brim of his eyes – ready to leak at a moment's notice. "What do you want?" Colette flinched – Lloyd's voice sounded so cold, when he normally sounded like an optimistic little boy.

"I'm really sorry if I had said something to hurt you," Colette said ass she sat down on the ground next to him. "I didn't mean to."

"I know you didn't mean to," Lloyd began. "But…" he trailed off, drawing circles in the dirt. "It's weird not having a mom. I don't know if you'd understand though." Colette's eyes softened.

"I know what it's like, to not have a mom…" Lloyd's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" This whole time, he never thought that Colette did not have a mother – he always left as soon as the Raine dismissed them so that he wouldn't have to see the other children's complete families, unlike his own.

"My mother died about two years ago, when I was four years old. I can't really remember her very well since I was so little, but I do miss her. But I don't let it get to me… I still have a father who loves me very much and a grandmother who makes the best cookies!" The two children laughed.

"Then, whom were you making that card for?"

"Huh? Oh, my grandmother, Phaidra." Suddenly Colette had an idea. "Why don't you celebrate Mother's Day with my family? My grandmother is still a mother after all. And, I'm sure your father won't mind because it isn't Father's Day."

Lloyd smiled. "You know what Colette?"

"No, what?"

"You're the best!" Lloyd screamed as he hugged her.

End Flashback

"Lloyd, you know what you are?" Colette suddenly cried.

"Hmm? What?"

"The best!" Colette cried as she gave Lloyd a fierce hug. Lloyd smiled, clearly he was reminiscing about that time in his childhood as well. A moment later, Raine stepped in through the open doorway and smiled. Noticing that someone was watching them, Lloyd turned around to find Raine standing there, grinning. Lloyd and Colette broke their embrace short, red blush on both of their cheeks.

"I'm sorry to cut your time short, but I'm supposed to give Colette some sleeping medicine – it'll help her recover faster." Raine spoke as she handed Colette a glass of water and some medicine. Colette quickly complied, taking the medicine immediately as soon as she received it. "The medicine is very effective, so I'll be leaving now. Lloyd, you have to leave too, Colette needs her rest."

"Okay, Professor," Lloyd sadly said – he didn't want to leave Colette's side. "Here, before I go, I want you to have this." Lloyd reached into the small bag and placed the locket into Colette's open hand. Colette managed to smile at Lloyd before she drifted asleep, a smile spread across her face and the locket in her closed hand. As Lloyd walked towards the door, he whispered, "I love you," before silently shutting it behind him.

Please review!

-Hari