Just a very short chapter this time, to wrap up the plot before we move on to the lemon. I will be posting a much-edited version of the final lemon chapter on this site, mostly as a placeholder to tell you when the real version of it can be found on my livejournal. (I'll make that chapter accessible from my profile.)

The first couple lines, in italics, are flashback to the end of last chapter, just to remind you all what's going on. I still don't own them, wish I did. Enjoy the show!

Oh, yes, and in the chapter title, 'oyako', is a Japanese word for platonic interaction between a father and son. Usage example: "I am utterly addicted to oyako fluff with Kratos and Lloyd."

Kratos smiled warmly, his arms around Zelos' waist as the other held him close. After a moment, he leaned down and captured Zelos' lips in a searing kiss, to which the other eagerly responded. Moving one hand up to grip Zelos' shoulder, Kratos was about to deepen the kiss, when he heard a shocked voice from the balcony entrance.

"Zelos? Dad!" They froze, then broke away, blushing as both turned to see Lloyd standing there, shocked. Slightly behind him was Colette, who shot them an apologetic glance. They looked at each other, then back at Lloyd, utterly speechless.

"Um," Zelos said, face burning scarlet, "er, hi, Lloyd…" Lloyd just stared at him, expression unreadable.

"…Lloyd," Kratos said, "…Can I speak with you, alone?"

After a moment, Lloyd nodded, still looking a bit shell-shocked. Kratos gave Zelos and Colette each a significant look, and they nodded and left, closing the balcony doors behind them. Turning to Lloyd, Kratos sighed.

"That would not have been the ideal way for you to have found out about this," he said.

Lloyd finally recovered his voice. "I'll say!" he cried, "How…why…I mean…" he took a deep breath, "How long has this been happening?"

"I only found out about it last night," Kratos replied calmly, "although it seems to have been building for a while."

"Is that why you guys have been so weird lately?" Lloyd asked, seeming a bit calmer now.

"…I wasn't aware that my behavior had changed," Kratos responded, "but yes, that is the reason Zelos has been acting differently."

"You didn't notice?" Lloyd asked skeptically, "You've been going off by yourself and brooding a lot, it's almost like back when we first met." He shook his head, "Anyway…it's just…a bit of a shock, I guess. Does this mean you two are…what was the word they used for it in the village…'queer'?" The younger man still looked bewildered.

"A more polite term is 'gay'," Kratos told his son matter-of-factly, "And in our case, both of us are bisexual, meaning that gender simply doesn't make a difference in who we love." Despite his neutral tone, a hint of worry danced about his eyes.

Lloyd nodded, "Okay, that kind of makes sense. I mean, you loved Mom and all…"

"I did," Kratos responded with a nod of his own, "I will never forget your mother, Lloyd. She was the most remarkable woman I've ever met. What I have with Zelos is…different."

Lloyd waved the comment off, "I know, I know." He smiled, "I'm not about to blame you for falling in love again, don't worry about that. I'm glad you're happy. It's just kind of surprising to me that you fell in love with Zelos, of all people."

Kratos smiled in relief. "I'm glad," he said, "I was afraid…"

"No, no, it's fine," Lloyd replied, moving forward to embrace his father. "You're my dad, I'll love you no matter what, okay?"

Kratos held Lloyd close. "Thank you," he whispered.

They embraced a moment longer, then Lloyd pulled back and stepped away, getting an odd expression on his face. "Wait a minute," he said, "If Zelos likes both guys and girls…" he shook his head, as if trying to dispel some image, "…no, I'm imagining things."

Kratos chuckled. "Yes, Lloyd," he said, amusement filling his tone, "he did admit to me that for a time during the Journey, he had something of a crush on you."

Lloyd's expression was priceless. "I did not need to know that," he said in a small voice.

Kratos just laughed. "Don't worry," he said, "He's over it by now, and even if he wasn't, he respects your relationship with Colette."

Lloyd sighed in relief. "Okay," he said, "That's all right, then. I'll…try not to be weird."

"He'll understand," Kratos replied, "Shall we go and see how he and Colette are faring?" He glanced at the entrance to the balcony, noting with amusement that the curtain fell back into place as soon as he looked their way.

"Sure, yeah," Lloyd said, "…I'm sure Colette will want to know what you've told me, too."

"I think she already knew," Kratos replied, moving to open the balcony doors, "And not just because she and Zelos were listening in on our conversation." He glanced at the two, who were sitting in the room and gave him guilty looks as he entered.

Lloyd laughed. "I suppose I kind of half-expected that," he admitted.

"I'm sorry, Lloyd," Colette murmured apologetically, "I just wanted to make sure you two would be okay…"

"It's fine, Colette," Lloyd told her, "I understand. And it all turned out okay, right?" Colette just nodded, beaming at him happily.

"It sure did," Zelos responded warmly, "I'm glad both of you are all right with this. And I promise, on my honor," he held up two fingers as if making a pledge, "I won't flirt with Lloyd any more, ever."

"You had better not," Kratos growled, though the sound distinctly lacked menace, and the others all laughed.

Lemon will be posted soon, in the meantime, please review, and I'll get back to you as soon as I notice. (I don't seem to be getting alerts lately...)