Chapter 4

Zidane spun around at the sound of her voice. He gaped at the sight of her, she was taller and her hair was loose around her shoulder's instead of placed in its usual golden clip.

"Dag-… I mean, Garnet. What… why are you…?"

Garnet smiled nervously, "I thought you'd have come back to the Black Mage Village with Mikoto… I know this is kind of… sudden but I need to speak to you, urgently please"

"Oi if ye don't mind I got's a shop to open up" the man grunted.

Zidane ignored him and followed Garnet outside, trying to keep his eyes anywhere but on her figure.

"You look… well" he managed to say.

"Thank You. I was on my way to the Village actually when I saw you… I'm sorry to surprise you like this but like I said, it's urgent"

"Oh, not a social call then" Zidane said, trying to hide his disappointment.

Garnet leaned against a wall, avoiding his gaze, "Thing's didn't end well between us did they…"

"You can say that again" he muttered.

"Perhaps we can talk about that later, but for now I think you're in terrible danger Zidane. There's a man in Alexandria who's been asking a lot of questions about you. I left as soon as I heard-"

"Well thanks for the heads up, your highness, but I think I can take care of myself. I've been through much worse after all"

Garnet stared at the floor, upset at Zidane's nonchalant manner, "I just wanted to make sure you'd be ok" she whispered before turning away from him.

Zidane regretted being so offhand and felt his stomach twist with guilt as she walked away, "Where are you going?" he said quicker then he meant to.

"Home, you obviously don't need me…" she called back, trying to hide the hurt she felt.

Zidane had only a few seconds to contemplate his situation, if she left now there was a good chance he'd never see her again… never be able to ask her…

"Did you love me?" he called to her back.

She stopped, turning slowly she studied his face. Zidane was always one to act happy and carefree no matter the situation. But now she could see some kind of desperation in his eyes.

"I never stopped Zidane"

They both stood in silence, waiting for the other to react first, unsure of what was going to happen next.

"Then why did you want me to leave?" he questioned.

Garnet sighed heavily, "I didn't want you to go, I just… you know I don't think this is the best place to talk about it" she gestured toward the shop keeper who had been trying to eavesdrop from the shadow of the doorway.

"Right, fine…" Zidane snapped, "I have things to do, I need some new bits for my house. It was good to see you again, your majesty"

His temper was getting the better of him; all he needed were some answers. Where did everything go so wrong between the two of them?

"Would you stop that!" Garnet's voice broke as her eyes begun to fill with tears, "This isn't easy for me either you know!"

"Oh what's so hard about it for you? You come out here for a quick visit and disappear again back to your castle and your servants… I'm stuck out here on my own!" Zidane's voice had risen to the point of shouting, her flowing tears merely frustrating him.

"I never meant to leave you on your own, I thought it was for the best" she whispered, whipping her cheeks harshly,

"Who? For you?" Zidane's fists were balled in his pockets, never in all there travels had they argues like this. He would only tease her to the point of bickering and would then back off and let her cool down. He guessed she wasn't used to having people pushing her buttons all the time. "Get rid of the thief, the freak from another world so you can go marry your prince charming?"

"It wasn't like that!" Garnet was now so frustrated with him that she stomped her foot hard on the floor like she used to whenever Steiner didn't listen to her.

"Then tell me what the hell is going on" he bellowed.

"What's all the ruckus?"

A large man with red robes sauntered up to them, looking very angry. Garnet recognised him as the man who had married them on their last visit.

"I'm sorry, I was just leaving" Garnet said, her cheeks flaming. She wondered how many people had heard them argue.

"Hold on, we need to talk" Zidane stepped forward.

"Aye, you should do as your husband says lass"

Both of them looked at one another rather awkwardly, they had never discussed the fact that were husband and wife on this continent, Garnet had insisted it was a means to and end and Zidane hadn't pushed the subject.

"Come home with me, we can talk there" Zidane said, trying not to sound too demanding. He knew Garnet would only oppose being ordered around. Thankfully she nodded slowly and the priest smiled broadly.

"This is how marriage should work!" he laughed as he left them stood in uncomfortable silence.

"You needed to buy some things…" Garnet said quietly.

"It can wait, there's a chocobo not far from here. We can ride him to the Village"

Once they left the small town and Zidane called the chocobo, Garnet began to panic. As Zidane jumped up onto the birds back he offered her his hand, just like he used to when they had to travel across a particularly treacherous plain.

With nowhere else to steady herself she had to wind her arms around Zidane's waist to stop from falling off, her face ended up buried in his back as she protected her eyes from the sands blown at her in the strong wind.

This was the most contact they'd has since the night he left, the memory of his fierce kiss made her heart beat a little faster and she questioned what she would say to him when they arrived.

XXX

The tension end soon!