Cherished

prompt : dreams
Vaan & Penelo

Disclaimer: I do not own FF12, its characters, settings, etc. These words, however, are mine.

"Vaan... Of course I want to be your sky pirate partner." Penelo said, frowning at the skeptical looking boy that was her best friend. She rolled her eyes as he cocked his head to the side and opened his mouth to refute her words. She said something before he could utter another word. "It's not that... Well, Vaan, I have dreams, you know. I'd like to live some of them out."

His mouth shut abruptly at that.

She smiled and continued the walk she'd been on before Vaan had run up behind her and caught her attention. He kept the pace with her.

"What kind of dreams?" He asked, looking down at her curiously.

"Well..." She started, looking up at the sky and clasping her hands behind her back. "I want to be a professional dancer, or I at least would like to try it out. All those people looking on while I dance my heart out..." She sighed blissfully and twirled around so she was walking backwards.

Vaan smirked. "Well, that's a given. And we both know you can, so... Why haven't you?"

"Timing."

He nodded. "And...? Anything else?"

She averted her gaze and turned back around to walk normally. "I want... A family. I do, I want to have kids. I've been without a family for so long..." She admitted and shook her head and laughed. "But... I don't know if that'll ever happen."

"Why not?" He asked, perturbed by the bitter look that had appeared in her eyes. As quick as it was there, though, it was gone.

"I just don't think... Anyone would want me, you know? I have nothing." She started skipping as she walked, amusing Vaan. "Not that having nothing is a bad thing. I just know that a lot of people -- guys, in my case -- don't exactly want that."

"Well, come on then. What're we waiting for?" Vaan spoke up, jumping in front of her and taking her hands in his. She looked at him questioningly. "I... I can give you all that." He said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

Her eyes widened a bit. "What?"

"I can help you live out those dreams. Well, the last one anyway."

Penelo smiled and something inside of her started to soar. "Are you...?" She knew he was never too great with words and he shied away from this kind of stuff, so she didn't really need him to come out and say it, but she wanted to be sure he was sure, that what she thought he was saying was really what he was saying.

"Come on, Penelo. I..." He trailed off a bit quietly. "I love you and... Even if you don't, you're still coming with me." He added, trying to make his confession less of a possibly hurtful rejection.

She felt the prick of tears, but held them back. This wasn't something to cry about, even if they were tears of joy. This was something to be happy about -- and she was. She was on cloud nine now. Hadn't she wished for this to happen most of her life? Hadn't she always wondered if her feelings were reciprocated?

In a throaty voice and bright eyes (try as she might, some tears may have escaped...), she said "I love you, too..." After a seconds hesitation, she lifted their hands into the air triumphantly. "To living out a dream."

He smiled cheekily. "To living out our dream."