CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Vaan! I can see her! I can see The Strahl!"

"Gees, Penelo, can you sit down! I'm trying to concentrate."

"They're there! I can see them! Quick Vaan, hurry up and land!" Penelo practically screamed as she spotted the two Sky Pirates waiting for them on the ground below. Vaan muttered something incomprehensible and did his best to ignore his best friend as she quite literally bounced around the cabin of his airship while he tried to land. Penelo was so excited, the very second Vaan had touched down, she had bolted from the bridge and was already opening the door before Vaan had even moved to turn the engines off.

"Penelo! Will you get back here!"

Penelo wasn't listening, so anxious was she to get to her friends. She wanted to make sure it was really them, that this wasn't all a hoax or an illusion. After almost nine months of fearing they were dead - Fran who she idolised and Balthier, who was firmly her brother in her eyes - they had finally resurfaced, reclaiming The Strahl and calling for the two Dalmascans to meet them here, in Bervenia.

Penelo leapt out of the ship and sprinted over the ground to where Balthier was coming to meet her. The Pirates looked just as they did before they lost them, it had to be them, she didn't doubt it. Reaching him, Penelo threw herself into Balthier's waiting arms with such force he actually staggered backwards. Upon regaining his balance, he enclosed his arms around the young girl, lifted her off the ground and spun her around, laughing.

"It is so good to see you, Pen!" He said, grinning widely. Penelo's grin matched his own.

"It's really you!" She said, gripping him tightly, lest he disappear again. "Gods, I've missed you!"

"I've missed you, too." He set her down and held her away to take in her sweet face and her new look.

"You've grown your hair." He observed, flicking one of her braids. She tugged, shyly, at her hair but then noticed something herself. She reached up to his temple, her smile fading slightly as she lightly traced the thin scar that sat just below his hairline. That was new.

Balthier let her trace it's length, and then shrugged nonchalantly when her eyes searched his face, concerned. Penelo nodded back at him, understanding where the scar had come from and that he'd explain later. Her smile returning in force, she turned her attention to the nearby Viera.

"Fran!" She cried, leaving Balthier's arms and wrapping her own around the tall Pirate's waist. Fran looked up at Balthier, startled, but her partner just laughed.

"You can't say that wasn't unexpected." He said with a grin. Fran wasn't exactly known for being a hugger but she relented and made an exception for the young girl. Vaan had finally caught up to them and he and Balthier greeted each other with a manly embrace. He too then went to hug Fran (who was beginning to look very perplexed by all this physical attention) and Penelo returned to Balthier's side, to his familiar one-armed hold.

After their initial greetings however, an awkward silence fell over them. There was obviously one huge topic of conversation that needed to be discussed, only none of them knew how to broach it. So Balthier, in typical fashion, decided to ignore it completely.

"So, Vaan, this is your airship then?" He said, gesturing the craft. Vaan's face lit up with pride.

"That's her." He said, beaming. "Only had her a month. Whadda think?" He was desperate for the Pirate's approval. After all, if anyone knew about airships, it was Balthier.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. A Chrysler-Bay, am I right?" There was an eager nod. "221 model, I believe. An older model but sturdy. A good choice. Does she have a name?" Penelo snorted.

"It changes every week." She said, earning a glare from Vaan.

"That's only 'cos I hadn't found one that suits her. But I think I've finally settled on The Promise. That feels right."

"You said that about The Thunderbolt, and The Maelstrom, and The Firebird."

"All wrong for her." Vaan interjected. "The Promise feels right." Penelo and Balthier shared a sceptical look between them. Fran, however seemed interested.

"Why The Promise, Vaan? She asked, genuinely curious. She had never fully understood why Humes insisted in personifying inanimate things such as ships by giving them names and was always intrigued by their reasoning. Balthier's explanation for The Strahl's name changed every time she asked just to annoy her.

"Well, I guess it's because that's what she represents." Vaan answered slowly. "A promise to myself to have my own airship. The promise of freedom that she can offer, of where she can take me. Endless promise." Fran gave him a small smile at this romantic belief.

"Then it is a worthy name." She said.

"Indeed." Agreed Balthier. He released Penelo. "Now, let's go get a proper look at her." He walked away to do a real appraisal of the ship, Vaan at his heels. Fran and Penelo shook their heads at them in unison. Boys and their airships.

"You are different." The Viera said kindly, after a moment. Penelo though about this.

"I guess I've just grown up a bit." She said. "A lot's happened since… Since we last saw you. We've been pretty busy."

"Dalmasca, she flourishes?" Penelo nodded vigorously.

"Ashe is amazing. I don't know how you'd even begin to run a country but she makes it look easy. And Vaan and I are always there to help her if she needs us." She said proudly. The Viera gave a small smile.

"You see Her Majesty often?" She was given a nod. "It is good to know she is well. He will pleased." Penelo looked at her in realisation and spun round to watch Balthier.

"You mean he still…?" She couldn't keep the hope out of her voice and Fran couldn't keep the amused spark out of her own eyes as she nodded.

"He would deny it but he lies. He calls for her while he sleeps, and it is clear in his eyes. His heart aches for her."

"But then why…?" Penelo let her question trail off as she bit her lip nervously. She was having a battle with herself as to whether to continue with her questions, knowing where it was leading. Fran spotted the struggle in her face and was unsurprised when Penelo lost her fight.

"Fran, what happened?" Penelo rushed out, unable to contain it any longer. "We were all so worried. We didn't know if you were alive. I mean we all hoped you were but -" Fran silenced her with a calming hand on her arm.

"Hush, Penelo." She smiled at the sweet girl. "Things will be explained in time. I promise you."

Penelo still looked conflicted but nodded at her. She trusted Fran completely and took her at her word.

"I know. It's just…we were worried." As the two ladies stood together, Penelo couldn't help but wonder if Balthier was the only one holding on to past attachments.

"You know, we've been lucky enough to see Basch several times too." She said innocently enough, whilst trying to hide the crafty smirk that was threatening to engulf her face. It was almost invisible but at the Knight's name, the Viera's ear gave the tiniest twitch. It spoke volumes.

"He and Larsa are going to be coming to Ashe's coronation in a couple of months." The young blonde continued. "I'm really looking forward to it, it'll be great to see them again -"

"Do not take another step!" Penelo was alarmed, not just at what Fran had said but the volume of the command. She had never heard her talk like that before. She feared she had crossed a line with her talk of Basch but she then noticed, much to her relief, Fran wasn't speaking to her.

Whipping about, she saw the most comical sight. Balthier was just about to step into The Promise, Vaan directly behind him. At Fran's interruption, he had frozen mid-step and was wearing a look so guilty it was ridiculous. Vaan too, had stopped just short of walking into Balthier, but was now staring at Fran, confused.

"What's going on?" He asked. Penelo was also baffled and she hurried behind the Viera towards the boys. Fran address the young man.

"Do not let him on your airship, Vaan." She repeated.

"Why not?" Vaan was really thrown now. Balthier stood normally and frowned at his partner.

"What have I done now?" He protested. Penelo loved how the Pirate had already assumed guilt even though he didn't know why. Fran ignored him and continued to speak directly to Vaan.

"If you let him on your ship, your engine will be in pieces within minutes. He will find fault with everything. He will dismantle your controls and we will not see him again until he has rebuilt it to his own satisfaction, which could take weeks."

"Hey, I am not that bad!" Balthier objected. Fran raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him and he faltered under her gaze. "Anymore." He added. Penelo giggled behind Fran. She had truly missed the two Pirates. Balthier huffed.

"Come on, Penelo." Balthier took her hand and started to walk her away. "If she wishes to stay here and besmirch my good and reputable character, that's fine by me. More loot for us. Keep up, Vaan. The Cache of Glabados awaits!"

"Wait, Balthier -" Vaan was clearly wrestling with something but his determination won out. "Look, you guys, we are so happy to see you. Really we are. But we can't just go on like everything's normal. We need to talk about the Malboro in the room. We need, no in fact, we deserve an explanation. All of us do. Me, Penelo, Ashe, Basch, Larsa." Penelo felt Balthier's hand grip hers tighter at the Queen's name.

"It's been nine months and no word. We all thought you were dead. I mean, we didn't want to believe it but what else could we think. But we've gotta know; what happen after The Bahamut?"

As the two Pirates had one of their silent conversations, Penelo couldn't help but be grateful for her best friend. His bluntness and tenacity could often be seen as rude or insensitive but then there were times, like this, when his manner was the only way to get answers. He was right on every count.

Balthier cocked an eyebrow at Vaan. "Malboro in the room?" He clarified, clearly amused by the phrase. Vaan held fast and Penelo felt it was her time to intervene.

"Please, Balthier." She lightly squeezed his arm with her free hand. "I'm sorry if it's hard, but he's right. We need to know."

Balthier looked down at his little sister and saw the compassion that laced her face. He flicked his eyes up to Fran for confirmation and she gave the slightest nod. He released a deep sigh.

"Of course. Of course, you're absolutely right. You do deserve an explanation." He smiled sadly at his two young friends but immediately replaced with a twinkle and his trademark grin as addressed his partner.

"Fran, if you'd like to do the honours." Penelo had to stifle a giggle as Fran narrowed her eyes at her friend scathingly and Balthier simply blinked back pleasantly as he passed the buck. Slowly, Fran began their story.

"Our escape from The Bahamut was not easy. It was made harder still as I had been hurt…"

She quietly recited their tale to the two Dalmascans. She told them everything, their escape and subsequent crash in the scout ship, their rescue by the Caravan, their injuries, Camille and Moes, Allaquoia. Everything.

The entire time the Viera spoke, Penelo held on to Balthier's hand.

The Cache of Glabados turned out to be a wild cockatrice chase. It held nothing of any real value, only the odd piece of loot that could be bartered for a handful of gil. "That's the last time I take a tip from someone Fran overhears in a bar!" Balthier had complained as they found their way to the exit.

Evening was beginning to fall and before they all come together for dinner, Fran was being given a guided tour of The Promise, - "She's allowed on board Vaan's ship then." Balthier couldn't help but note - and Balthier had gone to sit by himself to watch the sun set. An interesting habit he had developed since The Bahamut. He had told Camille that, after nearly dying, he just wanted to witness something beautiful everyday but Fran saw something different. She saw that it was his way of saying goodnight to someone far away.

Balthier sat with his back against a rock, his elbows on his knees and watched the sky turn everything orange. He was so absorbed in the scene and his thoughts, it wasn't until he heard Penelo clearing her throat that he realised she was there, standing over him, arms crossed. A little off guard, he quickly attached a winning smile to his face.

"Ah, my dear Penelo. Have you come to join me?" Penelo regarded him coolly.

"'Give this to our Queen for me, would you'?" She quoted to him. Balthier's smile fell away instantly and was replaced with a look of contempt as he turned away from her.

"Et tu, Penelo?" He spat.

"Fran's been giving you a hard time about this too, I take it?" Balthier gave a hollow laugh.

"Fran? Question my judgement? Hassle me about my actions?" His words were drenched in sarcasm. "Never!"

Penelo softened towards him as he fell into a sulk. It was clearly a very raw subject. She sat beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. His body sagged with regret at the move.

"I'm sorry." He said heavily. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"It's okay." Penelo replied. "I didn't intend to scold you. It's only…" She sighed and decided to take the leap. "She misses you, Balthier."

"Penelo,-"

"She misses you." The young girl stressed again. Balthier held his head in his hands.

"You think I don't miss her too?" His voice was quiet but there was a distinct edge to it. "You think I don't think about her every single day?" Penelo bit her lip.

"Then why not go and see her?" She asked hesitantly. She didn't wish to provoke him but she did have to get through to him. Balthier still refused to look at her.

"It's not that simple."

"How it is not simple?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Have you tried explaining it?"

"Penelo-!"

"No Balthier, tell me, why won't you go and see her? What's stopping you? What's making it so difficult?"

"Because I love her!" He shouted, finally snapping and finally facing her, his shoulders shaking in frustration. "Because I love her, and because I can't have her. She's Queen, Penelo, Queen!" He stared at her with resignation. "Who am I?"

Penelo had never seen the Sky Pirate so emotional. He was normally so cool and collected. This was clearly killing him. She reached out for him again.

"You're the man she loves." She said kindly. "Balthier, she loves you. Do you understand that? And yes, she may be the Queen but she's also just Ashe. Just our friend, Ashe." She thought she saw her words reach him but Balthier still had issues.

"I've blown it, Pen. I've left it too long. There'll be more opposition now. And who's to say she would even want me, want to see me, now, after all this time."

"Well I've got to admit, after that note you wrote, I'd be pretty mad too!" Penelo said this with humour, desperate to get a smile out of her brother. She was granted a half-smile. 'Good enough' She thought.

"Not really my best idea was it?" He admitted. Penelo shook her head, smiling properly.

"Bit of a poor show from a 'Leading Man'." She teased. Balthier rolled his eyes as Penelo continued.

"Balthier, if you had seen her face when she read that note, when she got her ring and realised you were alive… I've never seen her so happy." A soft relief spread across Balthier at her words. She conveniently omitted that part afterward where Ashe was angry and upset that he hadn't come to her himself.

"Balthier, you love her. Ashe loves you." There was a twinkle in Penelo's eyes. "It really is that simple."

Balthier just watched his sister as he mulled over what she had been saying. "Maybe it is." He eventually said and Penelo's face lit up. The sun had set completely by now but it was not yet fully dark. Balthier pulled Penelo to him in a hug.

"You know I said that I missed you?" He said and she made a noise to agree. "Well, I take it all back, you pain in the arse, you!" He was rewarded with a playful punch as they were finally laughing properly.

"Like I said a few months back, this is what little sisters do. They interfere in their big brother's love lives."

"Yes, well it works both ways now, my dear." He said, giving her an evil grin. "What's all this I hear about you and a fellow named Tomaj?"