'...I was so scared, Dad.'

The words echoed around Kratos's mind as he held his shaking son at the Renegade Base. He could feel Lloyd's tears soaking through his shirt and was doing his best to slow his own to stop them falling on the boy's head. Kratos was in a state of disbelief, shock, relief. Every emotion that could be he felt at that moment. He squeezed his arms around Lloyd's shivering shoulders tighter and the two stood for what felt like an eternity.

'It's...really you...' Kratos managed to mumble in relief, eyes squeezed shut. Lloyd was gripping the fabric of his shirt tighter and had pressed his head against the Seraph's chest.

'Let me look at you.' Kratos brought his arms from around Lloyd's shoulders and gently pushed the teenager so he was stood an arms length away. The Seraph cupped his son's head in his palms, using his thumbs to wipe the wet cheeks. A pang of concern ripped through Kratos at the grey complextion and vacant eyes.

'Lloyd...you look terrible.'

Lloyd's eyes dropped to the floor. He was still gripping Kratos's shirt tightly.

'I feel terrible.' He croaked, dropping his hands to his sides. Their eyes met once more and a small grin formed on Lloyd's mouth. He waved his hand lazily at Kratos, 'You don't look too good yourself.'

Kratos laughed bitterly, he had not changed since they had returned from the Tower. 'I know. But you need to rest, your mana is weak.'

'NO!' The Seraph jumped as Lloyd swatted both of his father's hands from his cheeks and stumbled backwards. Shaking on his feet lightly, Lloyd backed up against the wall.

'Lloyd...?'

The teenager seemed fearful, 'I don't want to...It's...It's too dark, and I won't be able to sleep anyway...' His voice trailed off.

Kratos sighed, 'I didn't realise you were still afraid of the dark.'

'I'm not!' Lloyd shouted defensively, standing up straight, 'I'm just...afraid I won't wake up again.'

Kratos grimaced and stepped towards his calming son. He placed one hand behind the boy's neck and led him into the room with the bed.

'Come on...' Kratos pushed the reluctant teen more forcefully, 'I won't make you sleep. I just want you to sit.'

Lloyd allowed himself to be led into the room, but stopped abruptly in the doorway.

'Dad...' He mumbled, biting his lip and looking around the pitch black room.

Kratos hesitated, not quite used to Lloyd using that name to address him. It took him a second to realise what Lloyd was getting at.

'Oh...'

The Seraph silently casted 'Fire Ball' at a small candle on the desk, its orange glow illuminating the room, and made Lloyd sit down on the soft bed. He pulled up a chair from beside the small desk.

'Lloyd...it doesn't matter if you are scared, you know.'

Lloyd shifted from where he was sat, leaning against the wallpaper, bringing his knees to his chest.

'I...I grew out of it. Dad said it was a real problem when I was growing up, I used to have nightmares you see...'

Kratos nodded, 'I remember.'

'But when I got used to being at school and confident around Colette and Genis, things got better.' Lloyd continued, 'I knew I had my friends there when I awoke. I guess I was just scared I would be left alone...'

Kratos's gaze fell to the floor.

'I'm sorry!' Lloyd noticed Kratos's expression, 'That's no reflection on you...I shouldn't have said it, sorry.'

'No, don't be.' Kratos replied, 'I should have searched harder to find you, but in the end, things worked out great for you. I am proud who you have become, it seems you had a wonderful childhood.'

Father and Son sat in silence. A snore from a few rooms away echoed around the base and caused both to laugh.

'Seems Yuan needed his sleep.' Kratos laughed, running a hand through his hair.

Lloyd had gone quiet again and it worried Kratos. 'Were you...ever going to tell me?' He managed to croak at last.

'Do you mean about who I was?' Kratos replied rhetorically, 'I wanted to...every waking moment I wanted to.'

'Really?'

'Did you not think it strange how feverently I demanded that you were not allowed to join us on the journey? How I allowed Colette to leave early so you did not have to come?'

'Yeah...' Lloyd twiddled his thumbs, 'but I thought you were just being...'

'I didn't want you to see me for who I was,' Kratos interrupted, 'But as the journey progressed, I felt more and more inclined to tell you. I cannot express the pride I felt when I saw you fight for what you believed, or when the two of us finished off Kvar at last.'

Lloyd remained silent, eyes vacant. Kratos watched him carefully as Lloyd swayed where he sat slightly, he was clearly not feeling quite right.

'Are you sure you are OK?'

Lloyd looked up and nodded, 'I'm glad I found out about you. Even though something tells me I knew before. I think it was because I was the one who got the true smiles out of you.'

Kratos raised an eyebrow, 'What do you mean?'

'Do you remember when you were training me? I said it was great to have someone like a big brother, I remember how widely you smiled then. Or when I had to pretend to like the Professor's food, but I couldn't make myself eat it? You looked like you were going to burst out laughing...'

'Heh... yes, I remember. Do you still want to make that ship?'

Lloyd shifted again, 'Yeah I guess, I hadn't really thought about it. Anyways, it looks like I have found myself a new method of transport anyway.' Squeezing his eyes shut, Lloyd released his violet wings, a deep purple light reflecting around the pitch room. Lloyd sat forward slightly, and fluttered them slowly, testing out his control of them.

'Woah...!'

Lloyd pressed a hand to his forehead as his wings fell limply forward before disappearing. A sudden pain had hit him between the eyes, causing him to press his hand against his head forcefully. Kratos jumped up from his seat, catching the teen as he fell forward from where he was sat. Lloyd's head had fallen onto the front of Kratos's shoulder, and the older man placed his palms on the boy's temples. A stream of white light exuded from his fingertips and disappeared through Lloyd's skin, topping up his mana levels. Kratos pushed Lloyd up by his shoudlers and held him steady in front of him.

'...You're alright?' He asked, panicking again slightly. Lloyd's head lolled to the side slightly before his eyes managed to force themselves open.

'Hmmm...' The twin swordsman nodded.

Kratos felt the muscles holding the boy up collapse, and he allowed his son to fall back into his arms into a deep slumber.

'I don't believe it...'

Yuan closed the door quietly behind him as Kratos placed his head against the wall and closed his eyes.

'But...how?'

'I don't know,' Kratos rubbed his eyes, 'He just woke. To be honest, I couldn't care less how. What I want to know is why he is a shadow.'

'A shadow?' Yuan leaned against the wall.

'Of his former self. He seems...afraid. Like a child almost.'

'Kratos, the boy has been through a lot. You can't expect him to be able to laugh it all off. He's just a kid, we'll do well to remember that.' Yuan replied forcefully.

'I know...I just can't get my head round it, that's all.' Kratos stood up from the wall, 'We need to contact Dirk and the others, they have as much a right to be here as we do.'

'Right,' Yuan nodded, 'I'll go and speak to Raine, you stay here. There is no use in getting Collette and the others all excited when Lloyd is in the state he's in.'

Kratos smirked, 'You just want to go and see Raine...'

He blinked as the pen Yuan was holding collided with the side of his head, and a blue coat disappeared beyond the door.

A/N Pretty lame chapter, but I didn't want to keep you all waiting!! I hope to god ToS 2 gets an EU release, you in the US are getting it soon... soo jealous. R&R??