Author's Notes – Alright, sorry for not updating sooner. But I've had Gankutsuou on my brain a lot so I've been plenty motivated. I would like to thank Sound of Crescendo for leaving a review. I really appreciate it. Hopefully I can promote this series enough to start converting people to the fandom. Hopefully I'll get more reviews for this one. Disclaimer – I don't own anything, nor do I claim to do so. Gankutsuou and all of its affiliations belong to their rightful owners.

It was rather quiet behind the cathedral that early morning. The grass was a bit damp with dew, and the purple veil of stars was still draped across the sky, the cosmic lights dangling from tiny silver cords, almost begging to be cut… The hem of his pants and the tops of his shoes were damp as well, along with the hem of his long coat. Albert paused on the grassy gravel path and turned to face the familiar monument. Somewhere in his mind he noticed how well the keeper had done his job. How little it had changed since five years ago he had kneeled before it…

Albert sighed bending down to lay the lilies and roses in hand on the marble. When he straightened a sharp breeze cut across his surroundings and he turned up the collar closer to his neck. He shoved his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched slightly. The lamppost a few meters away cast both splashes of amber light and formed shadows on him and the slab. The breeze dashed for a moment more then slowed.

As the young man stood there, the Count came through the gate by the cathedral, latching it shut behind him quietly and followed a path parallel to the one the ambassador had taken. When he was a few meters behind him he paused as well. With a mixture of curiosity, caution, and solemn respect he watched the still figure before the marble monument. It had a very sobering affect on him and a memory or two flashed in his minds eye. Albert had still not moved.

After a few moments more, the Count moved forward between the rows to stand only a meter behind him. He saw Albert's head turn a fraction of an inch in his direction. "You can come closer. It's not like he can bite you now," he said with the smallest crooked smile. The Count almost winced but bowed his head instead. He knew the words were not meant to be callous or bitter, but to his ears it did. Slowly, he approached the monument to stand by the ambassador, his eyes locked on the marble. The letters engraved on the stone seemed to leap out of the stone at him, begging for his attention almost vengefully.

FRANZ D'EPINANY

They both sat there in silence for a moment or more, staring at the grave. They were both solemn, each in his own way. After a few minutes passed, the silence was broken.

"I never underestimated the boy. He was on to me right from the very beginning, even before either of you had so much as laid eyes on me. From that first night on, I knew he was suspicious of me, and highly intuitive to my…ambitions. His uncanny judge of character made the rest of your relations seem naïve, if I may say so." The Count bowed his head a little farther. Albert turned his head slightly to look at him.

"But… I never gave him enough credit, either." There was another long pause until the Count raised his head slightly. "He would have been a good man."

Albert stared at the solemn expression on his old friend's face, the grief-tightened corners of his eyes, the hard thin line of his mouth that he had seen many times before, years ago. He may have not said it out loud but Albert knew what His Excellency was saying.

I'm sorry.

Albert stared for only a moment longer then turned his attention back to the grave. Somewhat to his own surprise, one corner of his mouth yanked up into a melancholy smile. "I disagree." The Count quickly turned his gaze on the ambassador in surprise, a look of utter question and perhaps suspicion in his mismatched eyes. Albert held his gaze for a moment then back at the bold letters. "He already was a good man." The Count nodded but said nothing. The breeze kicked up again and two or three petals wrenched themselves from the roses, skittering away across the marble and the graveyard.

oOo

'It's finally done. Our people have finally made peace.'

Haydee smiled softly as another official representative of Earth approached her, bidding her farewell with a polite gesture as well as a nod and a smile before following the line of other officials out the door. For two days it had been nothing but peace talks; lines had been drawn, old wounds had been healed if not at least scarred over a bit, the prospect of even better trade had begun, and of course a solid treaty had been signed. Many of the officials, both of Janina and Earth, had commented on how surprised they were that it had been as simple as a minor couple days of negotiation to mend their long feud. She had not been surprised though. She knew how bitter, festering sorrows and hatreds made negotiation seem impossible to ones own self. She knew all about that…

"You haven't nodded off on your feet, have you Princess?"

Haydee smiled at the voice directly behind her and the little jibe. "No, Bertuccio. I'm well awake." She glanced over her shoulder at the tall servant before turning back to front to speak. "To think…that it's done. That I have helped ease my people…" She felt emotion seep into her heart, trying to overtake her.

"You have done superbly, Princess. I'm certain that your father would have been very proud."

"Thank you," she whispered over her shoulder.

The line of officials had begun to dwindle, and soon the last of them was being ushered out the door. She turned to the table where only moments before talks had taken place, her eyes scanning over each seat. The polished surface reflected the wide ceiling overhead, the thin tall windows, except where one or two papers had been left behind for her. She almost started when a lone figure at the far end caught her attention. From where she stood, she could not fully make him out.

"I apologize, Sir, but the negotiations have come to a close. I'm afraid that you cannot stay here any longer."

"Really? Five years and I can't visit the lovely lady I considered a friend?"

Haydee's eyes narrowed, uncertain first then softened as the young man stood to approach her. She smiled lightly. "Albert. It's wonderful to see you again after so long. Especially as since we didn't even get to say goodbye properly." Albert, dressed in a fine grey suit, bowed with a smile once he was fully in front of her. "And look at how tall you've grown! You tower over me," she stated. "But how could I have missed you during the negotiations?"

"I just joined the talks today. I'm serving as more of a witness than a participant. I didn't even need to speak."

"I see. Well now that you're here, I certainly couldn't find it in myself to turn you away without so much as a word of how you've fared since I saw you last."

"Although I would certainly hate to intrude…I was kinda hoping you'd say that," Albert joked. He glanced at a motion behind Haydee that caught his eye and his smile grew. "Bertuccio! Baptistin! I'm certainly glad to see you! All the better…," he murmured the last statement. "You two look like you haven't changed by one bit.'

"Can't say that about you," Baptistin smirked, as usual. "It's not fair that you're a bit bigger than me now, kid."

"I'm not all that bigger than you, I assure you."

"And doesn't young Monsieur look rather well-off," Bertuccio commented, flanking Baptistin. "I heard tell that you became an ambassador. How long ago was that?"

"Ah, not long. A few months, not much more. I'm still adjusting but I'm looking forward to a decent living. And what of you four? How have you been since you moved here into the palace? And where is Ali anyway?"

"Ali's somewhere on this floor, probably waiting for the princess for orders," Baptistin shrugged. "And to be honest, it hasn't been all that much different here than what it was like serving His Excellency in Paris -. Oh." Baptistin stopped short, scratching his head as he glanced at Haydee. Albert noticed the slight shadow over her expression as well. "With…one major exception of course," Baptistin finished with a sigh. "Forgive me, Princess."

"It's alright, Baptistin." Haydee sighed and stared at the floor. After a moment of quiet she spoke. "Ever since I began to take an active role as leader of Janina…No. Ever since I left Paris, I've been wanting… I've been wanting to somehow…To somehow honor him. To do something that I'm certain he would have encouraged, as he had encouraged me before." She paused again, as if to compose herself. "I've thought of him often. His memory is no stranger to me. And…"

"He'd be supremely proud of you, Princess Haydee," Albert smiled, an unknown look in his eye.

"I would hope so," she smiled. "But I'm not so sure that you should sound so certain. You have no way of knowing that," she stated, still smiling.

"Oh, I would believe so," Albert replied, a glint in his eye that the others could not make out.

"Well, believe what you want. Please, Albert, there is no need for such formality between us, you don't need to address me by my title. It's been tensely frivolous these past few days as is. I encourage you to be a bit more lax during your visit here. Please, follow me. I'll have Ali prepare us some drinks. Any preference?"

"I've heard countless times that the tea here on Janina is excellent, but haven't had the chance to try it. Do you have any?"

"We have more than plenty to share. You'd actually be doing us a favor. We're a little overstock with it," Baptistin smirked.

"Ali," Haydee called over her shoulder to the hall. The mute alien leaned into the doorway. "Some tea, please. And fetch the fine china as well." She turned to Albert. "Should I have him set the tray for two, or…?"

"Actually, I brought someone I think you really need to see," the young ambassador smiled.

"Set it for three, Ali." He nodded and went away.

"So tell me, Albert, where have you been all these years?"

"After you four left, I actually went away myself," he stated as they began to move to the hall. "I secured a place in Marseille for my mother before I left Paris. She refused to leave the country but couldn't stay in Paris either. Maximillien gave me his word that he would keep an eye on her from time to time. She's doing well the last I heard."

"So where did you go?"

"I escaped to Luna with what fortune I dared to take with me. It seemed like the best place to stay and rebuild a career and life for myself, until I could return." Albert smiled. "It was probably the first good choice I made in a long time." He shook his head and continued. "Luck would have it that I met some minor bandits – old friends of Peppo – who helped me get a foot in the door of political life. I started out off the radar almost, but after some campaigning, I was soon on the fast track of where I am today."

"Bandits helping you get into the political world? That sounds like something that would happen on Luna," Baptistin joked.

"I know. 'When-I-met-bandits-on-Luna' is beginning to become the prelude for most of the stories in my life."

The four of them met Ali in the hall, the tea set sitting on a table against the wall. "Thank you, Ali," Haydee smiled. She turned to Albert motioning to the china. "Is this set suitable? I wouldn't want to make a bad impression on our other guest."

"No, it's perfect. I don't think you could make a bad impression on him if you tried."

"You've been so strange talking about this visitor," Haydee said with a raised eyebrow. She picked up one cup of tea, wanting to be a good hostess by giving it to the unknown guest herself.

"Well he's been dying to see you," Albert smiled. He gently placed a hand on her back to steer her down the hall. "He's just in the room down here, the parlor. And he knows quiet a bit about you, Haydee…"

Bertuccio and Baptistin watched the two make their way down the hall. "Good grief, he shot up, didn't he? Never thought I'd see him again, especially this soon." Baptistin sighed and turned to the tray.

"At least he's done better for himself. Obviously he didn't get his hands as dirty as his father's. Politics is a nasty business," Bertuccio replied, busying himself with setting the tray for the guests. "But I do wonder…"

"What? You really think the kid could have gone rotten or something?"

"No. I'm more concerned about this mystery guest. Albert has been blatantly hush-hush about him."

"And?"

"Perhaps I'm over-reacting, but just who in hell did he bring - ?"

Bertuccio was cut short as a gasp sounded down the hall, followed by the sharp crash of shattering china. Both of the men started and began heading down the hall.

"Shit! The princess!"

The two raced down the hall, one hoping that the former boy had indeed not gone corrupt, and the other confused and worried. The larger of the two fingered the sheath of a large knife at his belt as they drew closer to the parlor, hoping he wouldn't have to use it. The door was still wide open, as if to call them quickly in. Bertuccio was the first to reach the parlor and slammed a hand against the doorframe, hoping to startle the potential attacker and also slow down his own momentum.

"Princess Haydee -!" Bertuccio stopped short, halting as if frozen with one foot in the room. He blinked once twice… But the image before him would not change. He peered over the rim of his glasses, blaming a possible distortion – a tremendous distortion – in the lenses. No. No the room stayed the same. Baptistin skidded to a halt behind him, slipping under his arm to try to enter.

"Albert, what's the big ide-!" Baptistin too, fell short. "What…the…?"

The scene seemed impossible, but it was there. Albert stood next to the door, looking at the floor and grinning from ear to ear. At his feet lay the remains of the fine china cup, looking fragile and insignificant as the tea began to soak into the lush carpet. The high-back chair, coffee table, cushions, rug, and divan had not been moved the slightest. And there, not more than a meter or so away, stood the princess with her arms wrapped around the other man, her face buried in his chest as silent sobs shook her frame. A familiar, tall man with mismatched eyes – soft with emotion now – and oddly blue skin and flowing hair.

"He's…!" Baptistin couldn't finish his sentence, only stare.

"I told you, you really had to see him," Albert stated quietly at the two in the door.

They glanced at him. "Why didn't you-?"

"Would you have believed me if I had told you before now?"

"No. No, not likely," Bertuccio murmured, still stunned.

"But how…?" Baptistin pointed at the man with a confused look. "I saw him. I saw him d-!"

"It's a long story," Albert cut in quickly. "In fact, I think I'll tell you about it outside," he grunted trying to push the two of them out the door – and failing to hardly budge them. Bertuccio stared a moment longer before connecting Haydee's condition and the young ambassador's less than subtle suggestion.

"Yes, do tell." He stepped back and Albert almost lost his balance.

"But…!"

"Leave them be, Baptistin," Bertuccio hissed in his ear. He yanked slightly on the servant's collar before following Albert down the hall. "We can ask questions later."

Baptistin scowled, glanced back into the parlor…and sighed. "Fine. You spill it, Albert."

"Very well. But bare with me if it get's a bit confusing…"

oOo

It had been too long. Far too long since he had seen her, held her, touched her even, or heard her voice. But not once had he ever forgotten the young girl, the almost soulless doll that he had shared his home and life with. She had been so fragile then. And how delicate and fragile she felt now in his arms, crying mutely. How horrible was he that it pleased him to hear her after all these years, even though it was to hear her shed tears? How horrible, indeed.

He silently thanked Albert for the discretion as he cradled her against him, hushing her gently from time to time. "It's alright, Haydee. Everything is fine." It occurred to him then that he had not held her like this since…since five years ago just before he left her to finally confront Fernand. He felt so foolish now. "It's alright," he assured her again. She remained there for a moment more then stiffly pulled back, just enough to look at him.

"I can't…believe…" She bit her lip before suddenly slightly scowling. "Oh look at your shirt. I made it a mess! I'm so sorry," she sputtered as she appeared to search for something to wipe it clean.

"Haydee," he chuckled, grabbing her wrists. "Stop, stop." She hung her head, sniffing. "I come back from the supposed dead after five years, and you worry about the state of my shirt? Hmm?" She made a small whimper. He smiled softly. How he had missed her. "Everything is alright, Haydee." She wilted a little with something akin to relief and she rested her brow against his chest.

"I'm…sorry."

"Now stop saying that. You've done nothing wrong." She sighed as his hand – bare, nothing between them now – smoothed her hair. "I don't want to hear you say sorry again. Do you understand?," he said softly. She nodded, faintly. He shook his head. She was so obedient, even now, that it almost hurt.

After finding the boy again, after having made peace, his pointed focus had shifted. It had gone from the young man to her, just as one's attention turned from the moon to the sun as the time shifts from night to day. As soon as a ship to Janina had been confirmed, the young princess had been on his mind. All the memories he had of her – from their first meeting in the dirty streets of Constantinople to the image of her face, horribly twisted with sorrow as the Champs Ulysses came crashing down – had possessed him as thoroughly as the demon had ever done.

And he had been so uncertain of this moment, how they – she in particular – would receive him. Knowing that she was here, that is was her palace, and she was simply down the hall had made it painstaking for him to wait for the negotiations to come to a close, and for Albert to guide them in the right direction for their reunion. The moment she had come through the door and laid eyes on him, and the sound of shattering china rung in their ears, he knew that there was nothing to worry about. This had only been affirmed as she had thrown herself into his arms with a sob, so much so that he nearly lost his balance.

The Count continued to cradle her to him for a moment longer before holding her at arms length. He peered at her face and took her hand in his to slowly twirl her about. "My God," he murmured, shaking his head. "Look at you!" A laugh slipped from her and she drug her sleeve to absorb the tears, letting him turn her slowly about. Bringing their hands down, he stopped her, smiling. "What a beautiful, stunning woman you've become." One of her tears disappears as he brushes a finger over her cheek. "Just as I knew you would."

Haydee holds his gaze until the rising blush on her features becomes too much and she glances down at the floor until it subsides. He never looks away, never stops smiling. He knows that he has lied – her beauty surpasses his highest expectations. But hadn't she done the same in everything else? He watches her brow furrow with question.

"If you haven't been…gone, all these years then…?"

"Trying to find you," the Count replied simply. Details could come later. They had more than enough time for many long stories now. "But now is not the time for my story. No doubt the others are waiting for us, and I have yet to see the rest of your home."

She nodded. "Of course." She smiled. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

"I'm all ears, my dear." As he gently placed his arm about her shoulders and allowing her to lead the way, it dawned on him that he loved her. No longer as just a companion, mentor, and guardian. He felt love to her as he had not loved in years, decades even. And with a small smile, he realized that such love as this he had never felt even for Mercedes. For the first time since his bitter imprisonment, he felt alive, Edmond Dantes resurrected in a sense. Everything finally felt total and complete. Haydee was where he belonged now.

Haydee woke him from his epiphany by speaking. "I suppose I'll start with my homecoming and end with the sudden rise of suitors," she said with a petit laugh.

"Suitors, yes," he murmured his expression darkening slightly, before smirking. "I want to know all about them…" And they headed out the door, towards the rest of their lives.

Author's Note – I'm sorry that it's shorter than the last one. And I couldn't help shipping the Count and Haydee as a pairing, like they were supposed to be in the book. But I did my best. As a side note, I assure you that Edmond did not go back on his oath with Albert and exact revenge upon the poor, hapless suitors. I simply couldn't resist showing the Count's former deviant side, which I admire and sort of missed in the previous chapter. I apologize for the delay, and please be kind enough to leave a review. I'm still trying to improve on my writing skills and I need feedback for that.