"How many times have I told you to stay put?" The voice of Raine, Lloyd's teacher and more recently healer, floated toward him from the doorway.

Lloyd flinched guiltily, his feet dangling off the side of the bed, dropping the hand that had reached for his crutches.

"I was just going to get a drink," he groaned.

"You're not well enough yet. Let me get it for you," She replied, her voice still stern.

"Come on, Raine..." he murmured. "Let me go about by myself for once,"

Raine walked over and gently hoisted Lloyd's legs back into bed. There was little he could do to stop her.

"Stay,"

He crossed his arms, annoyed, but loosened them when the action hurt his ribs.

"I wouldn't be gone long, I just want to go outside,"

Today was Thursday, which meant Seles would be coming over to practise piano and that always drove him crazy. Not that Seles was a bad pianist, it was just.. harder to block the thoughts out, the mournful sound of the piano was bittersweet to his ears.

Raine seemed to soften.

"We'll go outside at lunch and review yesterday's homework,"

Lloyd slumped back into bed with another groan. Raine had continually given him assignments since he'd returned and been well enough to hold a pen. It was doing a poor job of keeping him distracted from his bed-bound state.

"It's important to keep your mind active," Raine admonished.

"Professor, I'm not a student anymore, I'm a working member of society", he protested.

"Well, you'll always be my student,"

Lloyd grimaced at the cheesy line and slumped down further. Raine fussed him for a little longer before leaving the room.

It had been nearly two months since he'd returned from Earth and his recovery was going slowly - both physically and mentally. Despite his situation with Reimi towards the end, he hadn't been able to say goodbye or patch things up with her and every day he obsessively cast his mind back over the past few months to work out where he'd gone wrong.

Reimi had been kind to him from the start and helped him in a lot of ways which he only now realised he'd believed to be because of an attraction towards him. With fore-sight, he could recall a lot of instances he'd previously glossed over where she'd seemed noticeably uncomfortable and he felt stupid to have mistaken her kindness for affection.
She was kind to everyone. He couldn't help the bitter tang that thought produced and sighed out loud.

Lloyd struggled for an hour to get his work done but was unexpectedly interrupted by Zelos appearing at the door.

"There's a girl here to see you bud,"

Lloyd frowned and looked away. "There are girls here to see me most days,"

"This one said she's your housemate? From Earth,"

Lloyd bolted up, eyes wide. "W-wha" He winced in pain "Reimi?"

"Er.. I don't know, but she's got short hair and glasses?"

Lloyd froze. "Oh.." he visibly slumped where he sat. "Amy.. But.. How did she get here..? I.. I kinda.. would rather not see her right now, if I'm honest Zelos,"

Zelos was the only one he had divulged his entire story to, thinking his friend's experience with girls would come in useful, though Zelos seemed more concerned by far with Lloyd's housemates' level of 'hotness' then going back and analysing Reimi's feelings for him. 'Whatever will be, will be' was his friend's usual response.

"So I'll tell her to come back another day?"

"Yeah.. But.. she probably doesn't have any money.. and she did let me stay. Can you make sure she has a room at the inn and I'll see her another time?"

Zelos smirked. "She can stay in my room,"

"For the sake of our friendship, I am begging you not to go there!"

"Sorry kid, Lloyd's doesn't want any guests right now,"

Reimi looked down and nervously hugged herself. "T-that's okay.. That's.. What I thought,"

Zelos walked closer to her. "Where are you staying?"

Reimi immediately back away. "C-can you just.. tell Lloyd that I'm sorry? And.. give him this?" she gently handed Zelos the small pianist figurine, her thumb lingering on it for a second before she pulled her hand back.

Sebastian saw her out and Zelos returned to his friend's side. Lloyd looked agitated.

"How did Amy even get here? How did she find me?"

"You're the most famous person in the world at the moment Bud, well aside from me of course,"

"But what would she be doing here..."

"Maybe she's here to kill you? Though she looked pretty harmless... She said to give you this," he presented the small pianist figurine to Lloyd, laying it carefully on his palm. "Shall I have it tested as a bomb?"

Lloyd gaped at the figurine, his heart twisting painfully in recognition.

"W-wait... What was her hair colour... what colour were her eyes?" Lloyd yelled, desperately grabbing Zelos' coat.

"Er..both were kinda a lightish brown?"

"That was Reimi!" This time Lloyd bolted up fully from the bed, carelessly manoeuvring his crutches alongside him and hurried along the hall to the front door.

"Reimi? Reimi?" he called out running down the steps, looking around frantically. "Reimi!"

The town was bustling, as usual for a weekday morning. There was a huge number of people winding their way through the streets of Meltokio and he couldn't easily pick out anyone familiar from the throng.

He groaned in despair while the pain of his exertion made him fall to his knees. The next moment Zelos was beside him, hauling him back into the house while he heard Sebastian call Raine from outside, but Lloyd tightly gripped his crutches, threw off Zelos and ran back outside.

He had to find her and apologize. Apologize for burderning her all those months with his most likely unwelcome presence and for forcing a kiss from her at the end. He hoped it wasn't too late.

Lloyd had hobbled his way through several streets, narrowly evading Sebastian a couple of times, and still not found Reimi. He glanced around the alley he was in and began back along it to reach the entrance of Meltokio,

And then..

"REIMI," he shouted, registering a familiar figure a little way in front of him. He saw her freeze where she stood at the top of the Meltokio entrance stairs and turn around.

It was her!

He began moving as fast as his body would allow towards her. His heart swelled as his eyes drank her in for the first time in months. She began toward him as soon as she saw him and he hurried faster, not caring who was watching. Suddenly, his heart gave a dreadful lurch as his knees unexpectedly gave out, weak from misuse. He stumbled, frantically trying to stay upright, the crutches not supporting his weight enough to stop him toppling over but abruptly he was in her arms, and all other thoughts forgotten.

They held each other, panting for a moment before a small, happy voice peaked from somewhere near his ear.

"Lloyd,"
He reluctantly pulled away to meet her eyes, beaming.

"H-hey Reimi," his voice was weak, his nerves utterly wrecked, but she had come. She had come all the way to Tethe'alla and asked for him.

Reimi grinned toothily, her eyes starting to fill with tears. She surprised him by tugging him close and he happily wrapped his arms around her.

"I missed you so much," he croaked, his voice raw with emotion. "I thought.. I would never see you again,"

"I missed you too," she gasped out through her tears, holding him tighter. Her grip was on the verge of painful but his body felt too numb to register anything except that he was in her arms. She pulled away, her expression serious, and he felt the void between them swell again. "Are you okay?! You're hurt,"

"Y-yeah.. I'm getting better every day,"

"From the car?"

Lloyd nodded embarassedly and looked away, grasping his crutches from where they had gotten tangled up with his limbs. He made to move away from Reimi but she stopped him with a gentle hand against his shoulder.

"Lloyd, I have to tell you something.. that night, I didn't mean... I don't..." she flustered over her words.

He adjusted himself awkwardly and broke eye contact. "I shouldn't have kissed you, I'm sorry Reimi,"

"Don't.. say that," she whispered, her words sounding pained. He looked back towards her in confusion.

Her gaze lowered to linger over his lips.

She leant in, briefly meeting his eyes, ready to pull away then continued forward and ghosted a light kiss on his mouth. She backed away quickly to gauge his reaction, but Lloyd's brain was still catching up and registered nothing but surprise. He could only stare.

"I know I have no right after what happened but.. I wanted to ask.. if... if you'd still want me,"

She couldn't work up the courage to face him and dropped her gaze to her hands, tightly knit in her lap, expecting the worst.

"I've always wanted you, Reimi"

He was surprised at how easy the words came from his lips despite how hard he had been trying to forget them the past two months.

Reimi breathed again.

She covered her face embarrassed "L-Lloyd,"

She laughed a little in relief and he felt himself do the same, utterly euphoric.

"Get a room you two," a voice came from beside them.

Lloyd looked up to see Zelos with a hand on his hip staring at them, but there was a smile on his face. He offered a hand and pulled them both up.

Half an hour later they were sat together in Zelos' house, their knees gently touching and Reimi's little finger lingering just beside Lloyd's in the space between them.

"Your hot chocolate, Madam," Sebastian's voice called. Reimi looked up, startled, in a happy daze and took the warm drink with her free hand.

"Thank you," She smiled, taking a polite sip before turning back to Raine and Zelos, two of Lloyd's travelling companions.

Raine had taken a seat opposite Reimi and Zelos perched on the arm rest by her left side.

"So, how did Lloyd get back, again?" Reimi continued, still waiting to hear the full story which had been interrupted by Sebastian, though she found herself struggling to focus as Lloyd kept turning to her and smiling.

She couldn't concentrate when he did that.

"It wasn't easy.." Zelos sighed, rubbing his arm over a wound that was not fully healed.

Raine, who had taken a seat opposite Reimi after introducing herself, supplied the answer.

"Lloyd's father... Kratos, found a book in the depths of Derris Kharlan that stated in order to open a portal, blood would need to be spilled on both sides to activate the magic that would otherwise only take effect on the solstice. He provided his own blood every day over the spot Lloyd had disappeared in case Lloyd made the same discovery and needed to come back."

Reimi felt Lloyd tense beside her, looking thoroughly wretched. She moved her finger a little closer to nudge against his. He looked at their fingers and relaxed once more, gazing at her with a soft smile.

Zelos put his hands on his hips, not noticing the moment that had passed between the two "I swear that guy used more blood than there was in his body, but we managed to convince him to let us take it in turns after awhile,"

"We had no information about the world he had been thrust into, your 'Earth'" Raine continued, "but we couldn't follow until the solstice... Kratos was as surprised as anyone when the portal opened early."

"The accident.." murmured Reimi. Lloyd turned to her, worried, but Zelos spoke before Lloyd could.

"We rushed him to Meltokio Hospital, best in the world, before eventually transferring him here, where he could relax in peace. Though his location seemed to immediately be public knowledge, so we've had a lot of well-wishers,"

"There was no well-wishing involved, I can assure you," Lloyd grumbled.

"But Lloyd is getting better, so hopefully he won't be stuck here for much longer," The redhead smiled at his friend. "No thanks to his little excursion today.."

"Sorry," Reimi chimed in, embarrassed.

"Reimi, it's not your fault!" Lloyd's hand encompassed her own, warmth radiating from it. He was sweating slightly, Reimi noted. "I thought.. The description sounded like... I'd have never sent you away if I knew it was you," his voice was pleading and she blushed at the conviction in his tone.

"It's ok," she smiled. "Bad time to try a new look,"

"It's really cute!" He grinned.

"Thinking about it.. I should send a message to Kratos now to update him," Raine got up and politely excused herself from the room.

Zelos smirked. "I'm sure that now Reimi's here it'll help Lloyd recover that much faster,"

"Zelos!" Lloyd protested in embarassment.

"Er.. Z-Zelos..? Here, I have money, it's not much, but please accept-" Reimi stood up to hand Zelos some notes but he backed away with his hands in the air.

"Hey, I don't need any more money, what I need is for my friend to get better, physically and mentally. Take care of him, ok?" Zelos' voice was firm but she could sense the heart behind his words.

Reimi nodded and Zelos gave a lopsided grin.

Suddenly Raine's voice called from the other room. "Zelos, I need a hand in here,"

He scratched his head.

"I better check on my cool beauty, you two catch up for awhile,"

With a small bow to Reimi, the redhead left the same way Raine had and shut the door behind him.

The silence built up thickly in the air around them. Lloyd was still sat behind Reimi and she felt his eyes on her back.
She didn't turn around like she wanted and instead found herself whispering the thing that had been plaguing her mind the most these past two months.

"When I heard you got hit by that car, my heart stopped.. I really thought... I-I'd lost you,"

"Reimi," she felt his fingertips brush her wrist, just out of reach. He grasped her little finger. A wave of goosebumps washed over her, rippling out from his touch, but she didn't turn around. "Stop thinking about that. It doesn't matter anymore, you're here now" Lloyd voice was firm and serious, the way it was whenever he scolded her. She felt an aching nostalgia in her chest just hearing it.

"...You were hurt," nerves and guilt made her voice crack unevenly. He squeezed her finger tighter.

"It's not as bad as it looks! I'm ok!"

Reimi just shook her head. Lloyd sighed.

"Reimi, stop blaming yourself. Things worked out, I'm fine. And now you're here I'm really happy, really really happy"

She shook her head again. "I don't deserve... after what happened.."

"Don't say that! We're alive and together now so it's ok,"

"But Lloyd-"

"Reimi, will you please turn around and face me so I can kiss you already?" His voice teased with a hint of desperation. "I-I can't get up.. Let me show you how I feel,"

Reimi burned up and slowly turned to him.

His face was red but determined too, leaning forwards slightly, his hand still reached for her.

She loved him.

The thought hit her like a freight train.

She loved him so deeply she thought, as she bent down and leaned into his waiting lips, her eyelashes gently fluttering closed as she watched his do the same.

Home.

She was home.

A minute or so later he broke them apart, breathless.

"I'm sorry, I just.. I just needed to.. I wanted-"

"Me too," She smiled shyly and Lloyd closed his mouth and smiled.

"I-I tried calling you every day" she stuttered, everything felt so awkward and new.

He fished about in his pocket for a moment and brought out his phone. "My phone died the moment I left Earth. But I.. I hoped you might try so.. I kept it in case I could find a way to make it work again. I'm not sure I'd have ever had the courage to message you but I wanted to hold onto it,"

"I left my charger at home.." Reimi remembered suddenly.

"A-Are you.. will you go ever back home?" Lloyd dreaded asking but had to know.

"I'm going to work hard and try to build my music career here.. though.. I might need your help to start, I'm sorry" she said guility. "I hope it's ok I came here,"

"Do I need to show you how I feel again?" His voice teased.

"M-maybe," Reimi smiled. They kissed again but only for a few seconds this time.

"Come to think of it, I almost got hit by a car when we first met, huh," Lloyd chewed his lip thoughtfully.

"Only.. this time, you weren't there to save me,"

"But.. if you had got hit by the car the first time, you might have been able to go home immediately," Reimi murmured.

Lloyd chuckled. "Are you saying you wish I got hit by a car earlier?"

"No!" Reimi protested, distraught. "It was my fault though, I shouldn't have-"

Lloyd took her hands, holding them firmly. "I'm the idiot who didn't look which way he was going before crossing the street. Reimi, let it go, we're all good,"

"Hmm.." Reimi frowned suddenly. "Actually, no... We're not all good.. I want my pianist figure back," She sat beside him and looked indignant.

Lloyd's eyes widened and his hands went to his crutches. "O-oh. It's in the other room, I'll ask Zelos-"

She stopped him. "Nono! I'll get it later, I just.. want it to be us for a little while longer.."

He nodded.

Then a moment later nervously asked "Y-you liked it, then?"

Reimi nodded.

"But-"

"I realised how I felt for you a long time ago, Lloyd. And I stupidly let my worries about Amy get in the way of seeing what mattered. It meant a lot to me, but at the time it made me realise I couldn't have you, so I ran away.. from you, from my feelings, from Amy,"

"If you run again.. I'll be running after you, ok? Even if it's with crutches!"

Reimi laughed. "Don't worry. I.. have no reason to run anymore,"

"Please don't," He smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his head nervously, losing eye contact.

"Lloyd.." Reimi spoke his name softly and he turned to her again. "It's going to take me awhile and I might not understand a lot of things at first but I want to try. I want to live here, in this world, with you,"

He nodded. "Yeah.. I want that too,"

"I can't say I won't ever want to go back, but if I do maybe we can go back together?"

Lloyd grinned. "Sounds good,"

"And see your space dad too,"

"How many t-" Lloyd shook his head. "He's not from space!"

A/N: Wrote a little Epilogue which is ready to be immediately posted. Thanks for getting all the way to the end! I'm sorry it took so long for me to finish writing.

Since I started this fic... I finished art college.. changed jobs about 5 or 6 times (for better or worse) and properly got my foot in the door of the games industry as Concept and GUI Artist. If I had written this all in one go five years ago I think it would have been a very different story. A lot of what happened in the fic did happen in real life to me a long time ago with a love triangle I was a part of. Unfortunately it ended pretty differently, leaving me heartbroken so I started writing. I cut contact with my 'Amy' and 'Lloyd' (who are still together today and are actually getting married soon) and this year my 'Amy' got back in contact with me and apologised for what happened all those years ago. I accepted her apology and we parted ways amicably. It felt like a good time to finally put my butt back in gear and end the fanfiction. I don't need to keep thinking about that time anymore. I'm happy to put this behind me but that doesn't mean I'll stop writing Lleimi as they're my comfort blanket.

And realised I didn't mention this before but the title of this fic is a song by the band 'Stars' from an album I listened to a lot whilst coming up with this fic about 5 years ago. Thanks for sticking with me this whole time and if you want more of the Lleimi pairing you should check out my friend's account - u/5464671/Lleimi

At some point I'll read through the entire fic from the beginning and change a few things that bugged me and some little mistakes.. And maybe draw some fanart to commemorate actually finishing this thing but it won't be today. Goodnight!