Colette's Story:

When I saw him, I thought that I was dreaming, or that the sun had really got to me, but it was defiantly him! Lloyd! He had walked through the gates to Triet, with Genis. I ran down to greet him. I think I must have seemed a little over the top with the greetings, but I was just so overjoyed to see him.

I showed him to where we were staying; he paid for another room for him and Genis. Genis had gone to have a look around Triet, and left Lloyd and me alone. He told about how he had been kicked out of Iselia and how he understood about the note. I told him about how I felt bad lying to him and that, this time, if he wanted to, he could join us on the quest, but I had to be sure he knew what he was letting himself in for. But I did want him to come, the only reason I didn't want him to was so he wouldn't get hurt, but I guess he really wanted to, and surely making him happy was the most important thing.

He gave me my present. It was a necklace, he put it around my neck, he did the chain up at the back. As he did so, I felt his breath on the back of my neck. I really liked the necklace. It was hand made with blue beads that seemed to glimmer in the sunlight.

Lloyd asked me if I was okay, he said I seemed pale, and that it looked like something about me wasn't right. I thought that now was the right time to tell him about how I felt about he quest. I knew he knew something was wrong, and I knew that he wouldn't let it go. I told him I was nervous about the whole thing. He tried to reassure me that everything was going to be okay. But I knew it wasn't. How was risking my life to regenerate the world okay? I knew he was just trying to make me feel better and I didn't want him to. I felt tears well up in my eyes and tried to blink them back. I walked outside for some fresh air. Half of me wanted to be alone, and the other half of me wanted Lloyd to come after me.

He did, he watched me stand up and leave. He didn't say anything, just watched me. When we were both outside, I saw him staring at me. I was looking out into the sunset, wishing I was back in Iselia, wishing Lloyd would love me. He came over to me and saw that I was crying. He hugged me, he put his arms around me and I buried my face into his chest. With his arms around me, I felt so safe, like everything really was going to be all right after all, then he moved his arms, he took them off from around me; we looked into each other's eyes. I wish I knew what he was thinking.

My face was red and blotchy from crying, and he looked so strong. He grabbed hold of both of my hands, he hadn't said anything, neither of us had since I went outside. Still holding both of my hands, he moved his face closer to mine, he put his lips on mine, and he closed his eyes. I did the same. I pulled back first, I wasn't sure what either of us were thinking, whether I was just kissing him because I was in such a state or whether he was kissing me just to make me feel better. My head was all over the place.

I had pulled back, though we were both still holding hands, I looked at his face and saw Lloyd smile. From this I knew that he had meant it, that he really did love me. I had no expression on my face, still, just blotchy eyes from when I was crying. Quickly, before I really knew what I was doing, I pulled his face towards mine and kissed him. This time I slipped my tongue into his mouth. I felt him put his in mine and he move his arms from my hands to around my body. Again I felt protected. I put my arms around his neck. I never wanted this to end.

Lloyd's Story:

When Genis and me arrived in Triet, Colette seemed to be happy to see us. She saw us arrive out of her window so came down to greet us. She insisted on us staying another night so we could rest. So I booked a room for Genis and me. Genis was exited about the desert city, so he went off to explore.

It was nice just Colette and I. She explained to me about the note. I didn't tell her that I was upset about it. I understood why she did it so I left it at that. In fact, she said that Genis and me could join them on the quest. I knew the note was just because she was worried about me, but I can look after myself. I told her about how Genis and me were exiled from Iselia. I started to think about how much I loved her, and about what would happen in the quest. She would turn into an angel. Could a human love an angel? And more importantly, could an angel love a human? But then I though about Colette, just Colette. Whatever form she took, whatever she looked like, as long as she was still Colette, I would love her.

I thought that then would be a good time to give her, her present. I took the necklace out of my bag and showed it to her. I had made it myself with some blue beads I had found. I put it around her neck and did it up at the back. I felt my hands on the back of her neck, her skin was so soft. She was starting to look paler than she had when we were outside; I asked her if she was okay, expecting her to say she was. But she didn't. Slowly, in her own words she explained to me what she thought of her quest. I let her tell me all of it. After all, this would be her story to tell. She told me about how she was nervous about not completing it. The way she told it, moved me. She had never been so open with me for as long as I had known her; all her life.

Suddenly, she stood up and walked outside. I just sat there and watched her, I had never seen her upset before, and I really didn't know what to do. I followed her outside, without saying anything. She didn't say anything either, she just stood there and looked out into the sunset. I wished I knew what she was thinking. I stood there and watched her, tears streamed down her face. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to show her how I felt, but in the state she was in; I didn't want it to seem like I was taking advantage. I simply walked over to her and hugged her. Still, neither of us had said anything. I really didn't think I was helping much. But I had promised myself on our way here I would show her how I felt, she trusted me, she wouldn't think I was taking advantage, would she? I thought I might as well try, as she was there in my arms, it felt so right. I pushed her away slightly, and took her hands in mine, I looked into her eyes, they were red from where she had been crying but she had stopped by now. She was so beautiful. In my eyes she was already an angel.

With Colette's hands in mine. I pulled her head towards mine and kissed her. Her lips were soft. I shut my eyes, but before I did, I saw here shut hers. Maybe this is what she wanted! Or maybe I'm forcing her. I backed away; I wanted to see what her reaction was. She simply looked back into my eyes and then moved her mouth towards my lips. This time though, she went further than I had, not that I minded. She put her tongue in my mouth. Her tongue was gentle and the way she kissed me was pull of passion. I put my arms around her again, and she put hers around my neck.

Then I felt the grip of her arms around my neck loosen so I backed off. She looked into my eyes. Instead of being red and blotchy, this time they seemed to have some happiness in them. I happiness I had never seen her have before. I smiled at her and held her hand as I said,

"Anyway, who says this quest can't be fun?"