Reviews make me happy. When I'm happy, I write. Need I spell it out.

Here are my thanks to my reviwers:

Fehize: Yeah I agree: what Kratos did was kinda inhuman...BUT AWESOME. Desians are evil so they were kinda asking for it. Plus...NO ONE touches his Anna. Thanks for the support!

Eyes of an infinite galaxy: Aww gives tisuue This'll cheer you up. Some Kratos and Anna cutesy stuff!

Rika Aurion: Thanks! I didn't really think Kratos would fall for her if she was weak and spineless.

Disclaimer: I SOOO OWN TALES OF SYMPHONIA...Except no I don't...sob

Anna flopped against a tree, panting. Kratos sat more gracefully rubbing his head wearily. Using the light of Judgment to such a massive degree after he had refused his angelic powers for so long had taken more out of him than he expected. However, his strength was returning in leaps and bounds. Nevertheless, they had to hurry back to Asilaj and the Jalisa.

Anna slid over and snuggled up to Kratos's side, curling her fingers around his. He sighed with a smile and kissed the top of her head. They were in the dense forest, half a day from Asilaj, but they needed to rest. Kratos knew better than to force Anna to rely on the exsphere.

"Kratos?" Anna said after a while as the sun began to sink. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, my love," Kratos replied. "But I dare say you have more than one 'something' you'd like to ask."

Anna laughed softly. "Yes, indeed I do," she replied. She sat up and moved so she sat face to face with Kratos, seriousness in her eyes. "First…" she held up her hand with the exosphere in it, shining in the fading day light. "This is the Cruxis Crystal isn't? Or at least, what's going to cause it to grow inside of me? The Angelus Project?"

Kratos sighed. "I believe so."

"How long do I have?" Anna asked quietly.

Kratos sat bolt upright. "As long as anybody! You're not going to succumb to this. We can find a way to get this off or at least manage—"

"Don't kid yourself," Anna snapped. "What if we can't? You can't just waltz up to Yggdrasil and say, 'Hey old friend, that girl you wanted more than anyone alive has your precious exsphere and we could really use the tool to get it off,' now can you? NO! So I ask again: How long and don't bullshit me!"

Kratos ran his hand through his spiky hair. "Truthfully, there is much I can't know and don't know. It depends on how close your mana signature is to Martel's. The closer it is, the longer you have, even though Mithos thinks it's the opposite."

Anna smiled, "Thank you for being honest. At best, how long?"

"Anywhere from one to twenty years, honestly." Kratos shook his head. "We've—they've never done this before so the results are unpredictable."

"What will happen if the Cruxis Crystal is formed?" Anna whispered.

"They'll take it from you and you will be turned into a monster then die, most likely because they'll kill you right after they take it." Kratos said, so softly Anna had to strain to hear him. There was silence and then Anna laughed. Kratos stared. "What could possibly be funny about that?"

"I'd like to see them try to take this from me," Anna grinned. "I'd let them the minute you swore allegiance to Yggdrasil…a second time that is." Kratos's mouth twisted in a wry grin. "Besides, I've no intention of dying and you won't let me. So as long as this thing isn't removed, we're alright…right?"

Kratos nodded.

Anna stood and stretched out her arms and legs. "Tell me what happened to Noishe…did they kill him?"

Kratos shook his head.

Anna smiled. "I knew it. He got away and fetched you. It'd take a lot more than that to stop my Noishe." She stood and walked back over to Kratos and settled into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she buried her head into his shoulder. He knew what she really wanted to ask, what she had wanted to ask first. But he also knew she was too afraid of the answer.

"My people? Ahmond? Denise?" She looked up at him with tearful eyes. "Please tell me what happened Kratos…"

Kratos smiled at her and kissed her gently. "All of the Desians lay dead at the gates of Asilaj. Not a single Jalisa assassin shares the battleground with them."

"They're ok?" Anna gasped. "No one is dead? No one?"

"Not a one," Kratos replied. "You should have seen them, Anna. Denise splattered with more blood than anyone else. Ahmond barking orders almost as stubbornly as you. Your people's eyes filled with determination and spirit."

Anna was shaking as she smiled. "I wish I could have seen it. Especially people following Ahmond and his pigheadedness. He always has wanted to lead in my stead. Perhaps he would be better."

Kratos shook his head. "The Jalisa are yours to command, not just by your birthright, but their hearts lie with you. Ahmond wants you to lead them, they all do." Kratos turned Anna's head so that she was looking at him directly in the eye. "While we fought, someone jumped atop the walls of Asilaj and began shouting. He shouted your family's name, Jamison, over and over again. It grew louder and louder until everyone was screaming it." Kratos wiped away the tears that were streaming down her face. "It was Ahmond who began it."

Anna smiled. "Mom and Dad would be so proud of them. So would Samuel and Adam. So would Edric. So am I." She hugged Kratos tightly. "Thank you."

"Now it's my turn," Kratos said and he actually grinned mischievously.

"Oh dear," Anna said smiling.

"First, are you ok? Did they…torture you…or…" he trailed off unable to bear voicing it aloud. Anna shook her head.

"They did torture me, but only so that I'd stop fighting long enough for them to insert the exsphere…or Cruxis Crystal…or whatever." Kratos hugged her tightly and kissed her.

"Do you forgive me?" he whispered. "Though I do not deserve it…"

Anna was silent for a long while, thinking. Kratos had a hand in the death of my family. Yet he had gone against Yggdrasil because of it. He won't reveal us to Cruxis. And I would be lying if I said I did not love him.

"It hurts me, what you have done," Anna said. "I don't suppose I'll ever accept it. But I can not hate you for it. In that sense…I forgive you, Kratos."

Kratos sighed in relief, as they lapsed into silence.

Kratos finally took a deep breath. "So does that mean you'll marry me when we get back to Asilaj?"

Anna was half asleep against his chest and paying very little attention. She smiled and nodded. "Yes, I-"

Anna's eyes snapped open and she sat up looking at Kratos's face for some hint of a joke

"Are you serious?" she squeaked out. Kratos nodded. Anna shrieked and threw herself at him. They tumbled back into the grass kissing passionately.

"I love you, Kratos."

"I love you, Anna."

Short and sweet but never fear. More angels, affections, and asskicking on the way!