This chapter brought to you by my hatred of physics:

It ticked me off so bad I wrote instead of did the homework. :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing. (May cause redness or swelling)

After holding his son for the first time in years, he wasn't eager to let go, but let go he did. He held the teen at arm's length, looking at him, as if trying to reassure the fact that Lloyd really was standing right in front of him. The teen's eyes were wet with tears but he smiled nonetheless, looking at the man before him with the same intent, of reassuring himself he was really there.

"Lloyd….I…." Kratos began, at a loss.

"I- I can't believe this is really happening, you're alive," Lloyd sniffed, wiping his eyes, swallowing to settle himself, his eyes sparkly nonetheless, "I- I never thought that this'd- ever happen-"

He cut off and stared at Kratos a moment, making the man feel self-conscious suddenly. Kratos hesitated and went to step back, when Lloyd burst out in a nervous grin.

"I- Oh! Y- yeah- uhm…you met Da-? Er- uh-" he hesitated, looking between Kratos and Dirk, suddenly very nervous.

"Ah've met him, obviously," Dirk laughed, feeling rather happy due to the events, "Found'im outside at yer mother's grave, we had a talk."

Lloyd hesitated, looking between the two men. His early excitement had vanished and he was suddenly left with an expression that said very clearly that he had no idea what to do. The father that had raised him was in the room right along with the father he had thought he would never see alive.

"You don't- have to call me that, if you don't wish to," Kratos found himself saying, glancing aside as he did so, "I completely understand- after all, Dirk…is…your father."

Lloyd gripped his arm.

"Well so are you!"

He flinched.

Kratos turned and stared down at him, once again unsure if any of this was truly happening. Lloyd hesitated again, looking between the two men. Dirk smiled and got to his feet, heading toward the door.

"D-?" Lloyd started.

"Ah'm gonna go outside fer some air," he winked, "take yer time."

"Wh-?"

"Yes, I think we will too," Raine stated, looking at the others.

Despite this, she gave Kratos a wary glance, her eyes scanning him intently. The man looked back at her, unsure whether or not he should look away. She was suspicious; that must was obvious, and honestly he would have been surprised if she wasn't. However, her suspicion aside she thought it necessary to leave the two of them alone, if only briefly.

"What? Leave? Why, I'd like to stick around for the fireworks-" Zelos began.

"Zelos you jerk!" Sheena shouted.

"I believe it would be best of us to leave," Regal said, already out the door.

Presea followed and Genis, hesitating just a second, followed after her. The others all left, Lloyd unsure whether he should stop them. Colette sent him one last smile before she left, reassuring him silently. Raine scanned the duo one last time before excusing herself.

The door closed.

They were alone.

"I…s- so…" Lloyd spoke shakily, looking at him again.

Kratos merely looked back.

"I- you can sit down- uh- if you want," the teen said, gesturing to a chair ,his eyes not leaving his father.

Kratos hesitated and then did so, mentally cursing himself, though he could not bring himself to seriously consider leaving. How could he, now?

Lloyd smiled weakly and then sat down across from him, fidgeting, nervous.

"So- uh- I…"

Silence again.

Lloyd sighed, rubbing his face.

"Uhm…"

"…" Kratos sighed, "This is awkward for me as well, if that makes you feel any better."

Lloyd tweaked a bit, scanning his father a moment, a weak smile coming to his lips as he did so. The teen swallowed and cleared his throat, opening his mouth to say something, only to forget what it was he was going to say the instant he did so. Kratos wasn't looking at him, his gaze directed to the far side of the room, his hands closed tensely on his lap, his brow furrowed.

"Why won't you look at me?" Lloyd's voice finally broke the silence, soft.

Kratos flinched.

"…" Kratos frowned and then looked at him, ignoring the pang of guilt, "I- it is not because of anything you did- it is merely- …"

Lloyd tilted his head to the side, scanning him, blinking once or twice.

"You talk pretty….stiff," he frowned.

Kratos twitched; Lloyd noted it; flinching a bit himself.

"W- wait- not that that's a BAD thing or anything- I – I was just noticing- that's all-"

"Calm down, Lloyd," he said, frowning, "You didn't do anything wrong."

"Oh…"

More silence.

"I…am sorry if you thought I didn't want to…look at you," he said, his words strained, "It's not that. I just…"

Lloyd frowned.

"I know what it is," he said after a minute.

Kratos flinched, his eyes snapping open and looking at the teen, who was biting his lip, his face furrowed in a frown. The ancient swordsman felt his chest constrict, but managed to keep his appearance calm.

"You…do? You- know what?" he asked.

No- had he figured it out? Was he that obvious? Did he know who he was? Then why wasn't he yelling? Why wasn't he mad-

"This is about my mom isn't it?" he asked finally.

Kratos froze.

"Is that why you're…not looking at me? You feel guilty?" Lloyd asked quietly, his brown eyes flicking to Kratos' face.

"Lloyd-" he began, unsure.

"I know about it," he said, frowning again, "I know about what happened- how she died. I…I found out about what happened, when her exsphere…"

Kratos choked, staring at him, for once his mind drawing a blank.

"I know about it," he muttered, then looked up at him again, "But- but it wasn't your fault! It was Kvar's! He was the one that did that to her, he was the one that made you do that! So- So please don't feel guilty about it- and he's dead! Kvar is dead, I- me and my friends killed him. So you don't have to worry about telling me, I know already, and- and she's already been avenged."

Kratos swallowed and nearly spoke, but stopped himself. He had to act like he didn't know this; he had to act as if he had no clue Lloyd knew or about Kvar's demise.

"How did you…" he trailed off, unsure whether he should go along with it or not.

"Well me and my friends were traveling," Lloyd said, "and…well a lot of stuff happened, but we ended up meeting Kvar and he told me about- what happened. Then we ended up killing him and destroying the ranch…"

"I see," Kratos frowned.

"Huh-? Oh! Yeah, I guess news must have gotten around about the ranch being destroyed," Lloyd smiled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck, "So I guess that's why it's not that hard to believe."

He hesitated, then nodded.

"Yes, I had heard the Chosen's group had destroyed the ranch, so does that mean your companions are the Chosen's group?" he asked, knowing full well the answer.

"Oh- yeah," he grinned, "Colette- she's the blonde girl- she's the Chosen, we've all been traveling to- to save the world."

"I see," he said again.

The look on Lloyd's face told him clearly that he had been expecting more of a reaction. Kratos hesitated and then spoke again, eyes on his son, finding himself suddenly unable to leave him with only that.

"So you've been traveling with the Chosen, that's…." he closed his eyes, "Very…"

"I know it's dangerous," he frowned, "If that's what you are worried about, and…a lot of things have happened. A lot of things. I…I want to tell you but I'm not sure how you would…"

"You don't have to tell me anything you aren't comfortable telling me," he said, looking at him, "I don't- I don't expect you to open up to me after…this. Just meeting like this, that is."

Lloyd looked at him another long moment.

"You …sound familiar," Lloyd muttered.

Kratos flinched.

"Pardo- What?" he corrected.

"You talk like someone- and you sound- …" he shook his head, "N- Nevermind, I'm just imagining things, sorry. It's- ….hey."

"Yes?"

"When I was little…did you used to put me on your shoulders? And we'd look at the stars…"

Kratos froze.

"You...you remember that?" he whispered, this time not having to fake his surprise.

"I don't remember really clearly but…I had the feeling that you and I would look at the starts and talk to each other," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "That- because of that, stars were the one thing in school I ever really cared about studying seriously…"

"…" a gentle smile came to his face, "I see."

"You like to say that huh?" Lloyd cracked a weak smile. "You've said that like five times in since we've been talking."

"Oh," he said simply, "…I apo- I'm sorry."

He should watch his wording a little, Lloyd already had picked up on a few things that would give him away.

For a moment he wondered when it was he decided he didn't want to give it away.

"So uh," Lloyd rubbed the back of his neck, "I- …e- excuse me a minute, okay? I- I need to talk to my friends- real quick- …"

Kratos scanned him and then nodded once, settling himself back in the chair.

"I understand, go ahead," he said.

Lloyd gave him a grateful smile and then hesitated just a moment more before leaving to go outside, presumably to try to get some assurance from his friends. The Seraph sighed and rubbed his face, frowning.

He couldn't hear them, though he knew very well what was probably happening. Raine was suspicious, although only moderately so or she would not have left him alone with him. Still, he could imagine her skepticism, her stance, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, going over all the data in her mind. She would ask Lloyd what he had been told, ask what the situation was, ask him if he…if he thought the man inside was really his father. His spine seized up again and he slumped, closing his eyes. His friends, the Chosen and Genis, would be unsure, but hopeful, especially if Lloyd seemed happy about this- which he did…

He was happy….

He shook his head.

The others would be more suspicious, more skeptically, but they would be mixed with hope as well. They would look at the locket he had handed over to Lloyd, see Anna's face in it, see how much Lloyd looked like her…they would look for some sort of proof-

The door opened just a bit.

"Hey-" Lloyd began.

Lloyd almost fell face first when something pushed past him, a blur of white and green. The teen cried out and Kratos' eyes widened. Neither swordsman had a chance to move before the white and green blur had tackled Kratos to the ground, licking his face violently, his tail wagging in a blur behind him.

Whine.

Kratos stared a moment, stunned.

Noishe recognized him-? How-? Well..protozoan were far more intelligent than one would think…

"Noishe! Get off!" he snapped, trying to force the protozoan off, finding it a lot more difficult to do then he had previously.

"Noishe- stop! Get off!" he heard Lloyd echo, then red gloves grabbed the 'dogs' scruff and helped pull the canine off of the elder man.

Noishe whined but backed up, his tail between his legs, though a dopey dog grin was plastered on his face. Kratos wiped the slobber off of his face and sat up, taken by surprised by a slight pain where the large paws had held him down.

"I- are you okay?" Lloyd asked, concerned, grabbing his arm and helping him to his feet.

Kratos slipped his arm away and brushed himself off, finding himself slightly indignant at being helped up. He glanced at Lloyd and nodded, to answer his question, then looked at Noishe, who was nearly bouncing on his four paws.

"S- Sorry about that, Noishe- ….knows you," he finished quietly, staring at him.

"…." He nodded, "Yes."

Lloyd stared a moment.

Then Kratos found himself trapped in another hug.

"I knew it!" Lloyd cried, stunning his father. "Noishe knows you- it all works! You really are- you are! See Professor?"

Kratos flinched and looked up, spotting his friends in the doorway, a slight frown on the teacher's face. As he thought, Raine had been the realistic one, bringing up that he could not be his father, that he could be some sort of trick by Cruxis-

…Technically it was though, wasn't it?

He frowned. It was …deception, and he was in Cruxis. It might as well be a Cruxian trick then…

"Dad!"

His thoughts shattered.

His head whipped down to look at Lloyd's grinning face, the teen beaming.

Did he just call-?

"It's really you! Dad!" he said.

What could he possibly say to that?

"…" he smiled gently, holding him close, "Yes."

This was a lie, but he wasn't lying, at least….

"Guys, come in and let me introduce you!" the teen said, releasing him and heading back to the door.

Kratos frowned and glanced down at Noishe, whom despite his obvious delight, there was an undertone in the protozoan's eyes, which had locked onto Kratos' own russet ones.

Noishe knew, obviously…but he was aware something was wrong. Those dark eyes betrayed wisdom to those who knew how to spot it. Noishe knew, and Noishe wanted an explanation, but Kratos did not have one to give, which he wordlessly communicated back. The 'dog' whined and shook his head, almost like a sigh, and settled for curling up next to Kratos, rubbing his hand with his head, begging to be pet. With a sigh Kratos conceded, rubbing the soft fur.

"I don't know, Noishe," he whispered to the animal, "I don't know…"

"Did you say something Mr. Scott?" a voice chirped.

He nearly forgot his alias before looking up, seeing the blonde Chosen before him again.

"No, nothing, you must be the Chosen," he said, "It's an honor to meet you."

"Please, call me Colette," she smiled weakly.

"Very well then," he nodded, "…Colette."

She beamed at him.

Introductions came, Lloyd bringing each of his friends up to his father, grinning. Raine and Zelos, though obviously still a little wary, couldn't even bring themselves to be curt to the man, seeing the joy that surged through their ignoble leader.

After the introductions came the questions, many of them, most from Lloyd, some from his companions.

Where had he been this whole time?

Traveling.

"I had thought….he was dead," he said silently, not looking at any of them, "I trust you know…what happened to my wife- with Kvar-"

"Yes," Raine said flatly, "So you thought they were dead. That's understandable why you didn't find him sooner then."

He choked a bit. It stung.

"H- Hey! Professor-" Lloyd began.

"Don' go bringin' that up, Raine," Dirk waved his hand, "Ah think it's obvious ta all o' us, don' need to remind anyone."

Kratos blinked and looked at Dirk, surprised at his help, though admittedly a little grateful. The old dwarf just grinned and quieted down again, his piece said. The group looked at him a moment and Raine bit her lip, glancing aside.

"Indeed, I believe it is more than obvious that if Mr. Scott stayed long enough to have Lloyd with Anna, then when that situation with the exsphere arose…" Regal closed his eyes, "…"

"…Regal..did the same thing, Dad," Lloyd said, looking at him, frowning, "So- So I understand, really, you don't have to-"

"That's enough," he said softly, but firmly, "I know what you are going to say Lloyd; I…thank you."

There was more silence.

He closed his eyes, gather his thoughts, then opened them, raising his head.

"After I lost my family I had nothing left," he said flatly, his expression blank, "I saw no point in living. Saw no reason to continue trying."

Lloyd jerked and his expression made Kratos cut him off.

"I didn't think I deserved to live," he said, keeping his eyes off Lloyd, on the group, "…I wandered, for a long, long time…I had no family, so I had no home, there was no point in…"

He closed his eyes, reassessing the lies he had developed….the strange thing being that they were not fully lies, in a sense.

"I did not settle down in a town, I did not stop anywhere," he said, "Eventually to get by I became a mercenary, there was no better job for a man with no home. Then…I came to Iselia. I heard the name…'Lloyd'…and after some inquiring I found myself at …my wife's grave. Where I realized that the Lloyd I had heard of was…"

"Then I found'im," Dirk said casually, taking a drink from his mug, "Brought'im inside…and he spilled."

Kratos hesitated a moment, but nodded.

Funny how it still was technically true…

"We had a talk and then…you showed up," he said simply.

"A mercenary hm…" Raine frowned.

He hesitated.

"Yes, why?"

"Nothing…we've just had…bad fortune with mercenaries in the past," she said.

A sting of pain.

"Wh- Professor that's different!" Lloyd instantly countered, shaking his head. "This-"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry," she closed her eyes, falling silent.

Lloyd fidgeted beside him. Kratos remained silent, waiting for someone to speak, not trusting himself to do it.

"So- what are you going to do now?" Lloyd asked.

The one question he hadn't devised an answer for.

"…" he looked at Lloyd, blinking.

"I mean- you're not gonna go wandering off right? I mean now that we finally- you know- you aren't going to leave are you?" he asked, unable to keep the hope out of his eyes.

He swallowed.

"Did you not have a journey to go on?" he said, looking at his friends, "You can't stay here either."

Lloyd flinched. The teen looked at his friends, then back at his father, then frowned as he found himself deep in thought.

"Well…you're a mercenary right? So you travel a lot and fight a lot anyway right…"

Kratos hesitated and nodded.

"Yes but-"

"Then come with us."

Really, what else did you expect me to do? Come on.

Next chapter, Kratos finds out fighting isn't as easy as it used to be, plus more bonding! You know you love it. ;)