Author's Note: Yes! I update! Shock and amazement flood over the crowd! Chapter three, because I'm in a Zelos mode. If you wanna know pairings...bite me. You should have been reading the past two chapters.

Sorry about the shortness of the chapters. I really want to take this scene by scene--try to really expand on as many aspects of each circumstance as I can.

Soundtrack: "I Could Have Danced All Night," from My Fair Lady. Except...slow it down a bit. More emo.

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Zelos wrapped his arm around Presea's waist. "Have I told you yet how glad I am that you're here?"

"You've met before?" Rich eyes narrowed and sweet lips pursed, Marina smiled. "I hadn't known."

"We go back," the young man affirmed, "and I'm afraid I'll have to return to you in just a little while, Marina. You don't mind do you?"

She nodded discreetly. "Of course not. Till then."

"Till then." Zelos tilted his glass to the tall girl, then gently began to lead his friend in the opposite direction. "Presea, you look...amazing."

"Really?" Presea murmured, looking up at him through decorated eyes. It was a bit odd, but she admittedly liked it. It felt...pretty. And nice, to be complimented. Even with Zelos's hand at her stomach, pulling her to his side--it felt right. "I've never done all of this before. At least--I mean--"

He laughed. "I get it. How are the adjustments going, by the way?"

From anyone else, the question would have been completely tactless. But, coming from Zelos, it was caring. She shifted a bit, actually resting her arm on his. "It's...very strange. I feel like a--a plant that's...sprouting up suddenly." Icy eyes darted about the room. "I feel...happy. But nervous. To be here...Thank you for inviting me, Zelos."

"No problem." He glanced down, tilting her head up with one finger. "You've really grown, haven't you?"

Presea nodded, cheeks tinged pink.

"You okay with that?"

"...I hurt some days. In my bones."

"Do you hurt now?"

"Not now."

"Good." Releasing her waist to reach up and trace her fine hair, Zelos smirked softly. "You're becoming quite the lady, Presea. It's good to see you coming out." Then, more loudly--"I think I'll call you 'Miss Butterfly' from now on! Tell me, Miss Butterfly, have you seen our other friends as of yet?"

Presea didn't know whether she should laugh or not. She didn't. "Who's here?"

"Old man Regal, naturally. Did you know that we're doing business together now?"

"I didn't."

"Well, he does business, and I just behave rudely. It's a nice agreement we have. And then, over there, Lloyd's hiding in a corner--"

She straightened suddenly, gloved hand clamping slightly over Zelos's.

He scowled. "You okay?"

"Lloyd's here?" She muttered. Her stomach was in knots, writhing, moving knots.

Zelos gave a short laugh. "Well, sure. Is that a problem?"

"N-no. I wasn't expecting--I didn't know--"

"Sh, hush." He tapped a finger to her mouth, curious at the way her eyes darted about and her cheeks began to glow. Once again, he wrapped his hand against her waist, guiding her towards one of the tables away from so many crowding socialites. Once he'd pulled out her chair, Zelos sat across from the flustered girl and leaned forward. "What's the matter, Butterfly?"

Presea looked down, hands flat against her red face. "Nothing. I'm just surprised. That's all."

"Well, you weren't surprised to hear that Regal was here." Scowling mildly, he tilted his head to catch her eyes. "What makes you so nervous?"

"I...I haven't seen him for a year." She murmured.

It wasn't much of a statement. But, it wasn't hard to tell that it meant more than words. Judging solely by expression, Zelos was fairly sure he'd pinpointed the problem, and now he merely needed to remedy it. "Well," he proclaimed, standing, "Stay here for a minute, Butterfly. I'll bring him over." And he spun around to find the young man in question.

Presea tried to protest. "No, Zelos! Please..." But the redhead had already flowed into the rest of the glamourous crowd, and he couldn't hear her.

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Nix: So, this was only supposed to be two chapters, but I'm guessing that it's gonna be five. Just so everyone knows.