A.N. Eh no reviews oh well I want to write so I will keep posting.

Disclaimer: I don't own it... End of Story.

Pineapple Wine Chapter Five

We all have our roles to perform and the parts we play change constantly.

Does she know she will always be my leading lady?

Balthier stood on a balcony with the others feeling a bit apprehensive about leaving Vaan this long. Everyone was conversing even the Marquis had joined them after lunch to continue discussions with Larsa and himself about his nieces problems. He sighed and looked at Fran who was talking to her sister. Watching the love of his life carry on a conversation with the only family she was allowed to associate with as Ondore and Larsa continued to talk.

Fran was his leading lady, his reason for being, he was not sure what he would do without her. When all of the rest of his life was turned upside down, the bounties on his head excessively high, head hunters on his tail, and the Strahl about to break down she was his rock. At his side through thick and thin no matter the odds. A life without his beautiful viera was no life at all that was for sure.

He would never forget the day he had met her. Young and very impetious he was injured from beasts of the Golmore jungle and had stumbled his way across her path bleeding from his side clutching a broken arm. When he saw her he thought she might be a dream she was so beautiful and as he collapsed rather pitifully in front of her he felt her image burned in his mind even as blood loss took him.

Fran's face the last thing he saw her voice was the first thing he heard as consciousness returned to him.

"You will survive hume." her voice was soft and he was greatful for his head hurt and he felt very dizzy. When he opened his eyes he saw her vision of perfection again. He had seen viera before but never one so beautiful as the one who kneeled beside him tending his wounds.

"Balthier," he whispered his voice hoarse and dry, "They call me Balthier."

"I am Fran." she placed a cup of cool water to his lips and he drank deeply to ease his sore throat. After that he fell asleep again for how long he was unsure but when he heard her voice he tried to wake.

"He has a great destiny about him. To let him die would have been an unforgiveable act." she was tending his wound. A deep gash caused by a surprise attack of a Malaboro. It had been cleaned of the bad breath the tentacled creatures used as a poison and she was proceeding to bandage it.

"If sister finds this..." Mjrn was cut short.

"She knows this and she knows I shall be leaving with this man to see his destiny fufilled." Fran's voice seemed distant and hurtfilled. To leave the Wood and go amoungst the humes would exile her from her home forever.

"I shall come with you." Mjrn determined not to lose her older sister argued.

"You shall remain here and become a great healer." Fran stated her tone cold now refusing to allow her sister suffer the same fate.

"I want to come with you," the younger viera pleaded.

"No," Was Fran's final words to her sister before Jote entered.

"Mother will not easily forgive you for your disobediance. Association with humes is an intolerable act but to leave the Wood is unforgiveable. If you leave you do so not to return. You understand these things Fran?" the older wiser Jote spoke and as an after thought added, "You will no longer have sisters."

"I know the consequences. I hear the Wood's anger. I will leave when he is able to walk." she looked at both of her sisters knowing it was the last time she'd be able to call them that.

Mjrn was crying, viera did not usually weep, but when they did it was such a sad sight. Balthier who had opened his eyes now witnessed the whole thing and he wished he could help but it seemed that despite what he might say or have to say everyones minds were made up.

"He will walk now," Jote walked past Mjrn to where Balthier lay. She placed a hand over of side where there lay beneath the bandages a deep gash and a green light began from at first her hand then slowly moved to him. He could feel the green glow coursing throughout his body. Unlike a cure spell that only ensured your body was stable it healed him completely mending broken bones and damaged tissue.

"Then we go," Fran moved to embrace one final time her youngest sister, "Be strong and love the Wood."

Balthier knew that for some reason his destiny was to be her leading man forever. Humes did not live as long as viera but after the bond they had developed he knew as he grew older she would too and as he died they would die together and prehaps in the next life be blessed with one anothers company again.

Dieing was far from his mind though. He had only just begun living and he planned to spend every moment of his hume life with his beloved Fran.

"Balthier?" he had been distracted from his conversation too long, "Did you hear anything the Marquis has said?"

"No forgive me I am a bit distracted." He apologized hoping he had not seemed disrespectful. After all he was in the company of gentlemen of the highest rank.

"No need for apologies. I just explaining to Lord Larsa about a very disturbing dream I had which involved my nieces suicide note." Halim Ondore frowned looking very troubled by this.

"I assure you everything will turn out fine," Balthier spoke with a little more confidence then needed which piqued both Larsa and Halim's intrest.

"Do you know something we do not my friend?" Larsa asked. The still young but definitly much older Emperor of Archades was known for his abilities to sense things and it helped him rule his kingdom without getting swindled easily by any who would seek to do it harm.

It was Fran's turn to stare at her significant other. She watched her lover struggle with wanting to tell them. After all they were the ones who insisted all past bounties on Balthier's head be dropped. Not that it helped with all the new ones. They were sky pirates after all the royalties of nations could not over look his theivery forever.

"We know for certain that Vaan shall return prior her majesties egagement ceremony." Fran could not stand to see her usually quick thinking hume struggle.

Everyone looked at the couple oddly and Penelo looked as if she was about to cry. Larsa had informed everyone that unless things were for certain not to mention his future wife's childhood companion. For almost three years he had to beg her not to leave the palace without a proper search party in tow. After the fourth year she calmed down a bit but a mention of his name or anyone looking similar to him sent her into a fit of tears. This in mind Larsa now her height stepped over to her and wrapped his arms around Penelo hugging her tightly.

"You know of the boys whereabouts?" the Marquis addressed Fran rather then Balthier because something had held him back from telling them sooner.

"He is alive aboard the Strahl," she looked from Hamlin to Penelo whose eyes were wide with shock and looked as if she was about to bolt at any moment. Fran was thankful Larsa had a hold on her because she was starting to struggle, "As bad as he is injured it is not a good thing for anyone to see him."

"I don't care," the tears came now and she strained against her lovers embrace to get free. She wanted to see Vaan, her best friend, she needed to see him alive no matter what his state was, "Let me go I want to see him," she pleaded with Larsa to release her.

"Penelo you do not understand. He does not look like himself, he cannot talk, he cannot wake, and he will not until he is fully healed be seeing anyone." Balthier had regained his composure and was speaking with a firm but gentle tone, "I promise we will do everything we can to restore him but now is not the time. We should have left for Glomore Jungle an hour ago."

"Speaking of this to Ashe is unwise," Fran looked back to the Marquis now because he had a closesness family wise that no one else here had, "If Rozarria discovers he lives they will seek to exterminate the one who could prevent the wedding."

Everyone even Penelo shifted nervously knowing that the viera spoke the truth. Ivalice may no longer be at war but politics were a different game. A very dangerous game. A marriage of that scale could ensure better trade prices for the country so of course anything would be done to ensure it happened. If word were to get around that Vaan, the war hero and old flame of the Lady Ashe, were still living and planning to make a come back surely Rozarria would send some one to quietly handle the problem.

"Where will you find a person to heal him?" Basch asked looking worried.

"We will seek the aid of those who hear the Wood. They have many healing gifts," Fran said nodding toward Mjrn, "At market today we made purchases to trade with viera in exchange for healing."

"Sister won't do it," Mjrn looked back frowning, "I shall accompany you and prehaps convince her to do this."

Fran had hoped her younger sister would help althought she planned to prepare her for the rejection she would recieve from her old friends and the Wood.

Basch now looked nervous, "I could accompany you with Lord Larsa's premission." He only added the title when he needed something or in front of strangers. The young Emperor had long ago broke him of the habit of formal names when in private.

"We could use his help," Balthier stated looking at Larsa who was still holding Penelo.

"I give my premission as long as you swear to bring Vaan back no matter his condition before the ceremony. Even if she does marry the Rozarrian she needs some closure with Vaan."

Balthier gave his word as a gentleman and a sky pirate to bring Vaan back no matter his condition and the four left quickly before Penelo could change her mind about seeing her injured friend.

END CHAPTER

A.N. I realized I messed up badly. Fran had left the Wood fifty years before the events of FF12. If it causes too much a problem I shall rewrite it. Let me know.