Chapter 5

She sat on the edge of the bed whilst he observed her, leaning against the wall with his hands placed in his pockets. Her own hands were clasped together in her lap, it reminded him of how she would always sit so stiff wherever they were sat when they travelled.

"They've really done one over on you haven't they" he said absentmindedly.

"Excuse me?" she frowned in confusion.

"Being a royal again, sit up straight, always remember your manners"

"Nothing wrong with a goof posture and manners…" she said darkly.

He 'hmphed' and looked away.

"Have you figured out… anything yet?" she questioned cautiously.

"Like what?"

"We both know that after you found out about your origins… you went to pretty dark place remember" her shoulders slumped as he glared at her.

"Yeah, and I also remember that my friends stuck by me"

"We didn't abandon you"

"No, you did"

Garnet stood up, unsure of how to answer him she merely strode over to the window and gazed at what was to become Zidane new home.

"Do you remember when we were here, we were lying on the bunk bed and you told me a story…"

He did remember, that night he had been more open with her then anyone else he had ever met, even the Tantalus guys. The following day had been when they were married.

"What's that got to do with anything" he said, folding his arms across his chest.

"You told me, that you found your home with Baku and the others… and that Vivi had been trying to find the same thing. A place where he belonged…"

"I had my home" Zidane watched her closely as she gazed out of the window.

"Exactly, you had your home. Once you got back from Terra and things settled down, this was the first place you came to. With all the other genomes"

"I was hurt, the Lifa Tree exploded on me remember?"

"Mikoto told me you could have come back a lot sooner then you did…"

Zidane growled inwardly, little sisters were more of a pest then he realised.

"You weren't comfortable at the castle, you stayed with Ruby when you were welcome to stay there… you didn't visit me when I was recovering"

"I…" Zidane had no answer for this, except the one he had been denying to admit. Unfortunately, now was the time to face up to reality.

"You were pulling yourself away from me, especially after what happened at Mount Gulug"

"You're right" was all Zidane could say, "I had no right to be there… with you"

"But you do, you saved the world with the rest of us. In fact without you I don't want to imagine what could have happened…"

"Imagine this for a second" Zidane said, pulling himself away from the wall he began to walk towards her, "Garland made me to be his angel of death, to kill everyone on Gaia. I don't belong here, I never did. If Kuja hadn't dropped me here hoping I'd die with the rest of you then I would be-"

"But he did, and that's something I will always be grateful to him for. Even if he was a homicidal maniac"

Zidane couldn't help but smile at her comment.

"You took control of your own destiny, just like you tried to teach me. I thought it best if you left because you'd never have figured out that you make your own home with the people you love. Remember?"

He did, suddenly all the dark thoughts of what could have been his life seemed ridiculous. He had ignored the very thing he had been preaching to Vivi, "You couldn't have told me this back in Alexandria" he grinned.

Garnet relaxed at sight of his smile, "I don't think you were ready to believe it"

From the corner of his eye, Zidane saw some of the Genomes and Mages playing outside. He suddenly found new admiration for their ability to adapt and resilience, against the odds they had found a new home. Now it was his turn.

"I really made a mess of things didn't I?" he scratched his head timidly.

Garnet smiled kindly, "Don't you always?"

The room was suddenly filled with a completely different sort of tension, hostility turned to attraction. Once again Garnet found herself trying to decide whether she should follow her head or her heart.

"You know… we're almost at our one year wedding anniversary…" Zidane said, his old cheekiness had returned, "We never did get a chance to properly consummate it!"

Garnet blushed wildly, "Zidane!"

He laughed loudly, "Some things never change, how about…"

He moved closer, his hand on her hip, "..just a little…"

Garnet breathed deeply as his face moved towards hers.

"…Kiss…"

"Mr Zidane! Mr Zidane"

"For the love of-!"

The pair jumped apart as one of the mages ran into the room, obviously very excited, "We finished it!"

"Are we cursed?" Zidane sighed. Even Garnet was surprised at how disappointed she was that they had been interrupted once again.

"Oh…" she said, suddenly remembering what Zidane had been in Conde Petite for, "Your new home…"

Zidane shrugged, "A house doesn't make a home… a few dogs and pictures of some ugly aunt maybe…"

Garnet shoved him playfully and they followed the young mage outside.

XXX

Prepare for things to heat up…and of course Arnold's up to no good. Now does T rating me no lemon…or tasteful lemon? Maybe some citrus… or maybe none at all… :o