And…we're…back… Welcome to chapter 9 of Enlighten Me, which is probably the last chapter cuz it's starting to drag. Hope you guys enjoy it, and as always reviewing makes you a super duper cool person!

Enlighten Me

Chapter 9: Tears of a Pirate

"Father don't do this," Ffamran pleaded as he watched the enraged man throw another stack of pictures into the fire, "Just because she left doesn't mean we weren't a family!"

Cid spun around, letting his calloused hand hit Ffamran so hard across the face that the teen fell back onto the floor, "I told you to get rid of these years ago!" he bellowed, pointing to the fireplace, "I want no reminders of that woman in this house! How hard is that to understand!"

Sixteen year old Ffamran didn't attempt to get up from the floor, but watched in horror as the last remaining photo of his mother was burned to cinders. A tear slipped from his eye, but he couldn't wipe it from his face before his father noticed.

Cid grabbed the boy and pulled him to his feet, "No son of mine cries Ffamran! Do you understand me?" he yelled, banging the young man into the wall behind him.

He tried to force back the tears, and every time he failed his father hit him harder.

Balthier turned off the water and grabbed his towel. He dressed as he usually did, taking his time, making sure everything looked just right. He was interrupted by Penelo, "Food's ready," she said, poking her head into his room, "Fran said to hurry."

"I'm coming," he said placing his last ring on his finger.

Whatever Fran had cooked resembled some type of pasta. It didn't taste like anything in particular, but it wasn't half bad, and Balthier had tasted much worse in his life. Everyone seemed to be in decent moods, maybe it was because they were so close to the end of their quest, or maybe it was because they were finally taking a few days to rest up.

"You look as though you are feeling better Balthier," said Basch as he poured a generous amount of salt onto his food, earning a disapproving glance from Fran.

The pirate nodded, waiting to speak until he had swallowed, "I think I'll live."

"It's a miracle we found you in time," said Penelo, "I mean a few minutes later and you guys would have been wolf meat."

"I kept telling you guys we needed to go look for them" muttered Vaan, shoving a piece of bread into his mouth, "but you all kept saying they'd be fine."

"We did not count on infection setting in," argued Ashe.

"We made it out ok," said Basch, "That is what matters the most, it's no one's fault."

"Actually it's my fault," said Balthier, surprising everyone.

"Don't be absurd Balthier," Basch said, putting down his fork, "You got hurt, taking a hit that was meant for me if I remember correctly. You hold the least amount of blame in the matter."

"Basch is right," said Penelo, "We should have come looking sooner."

"It's my fault we left them there in the first place," Ashe muttered, "I put my own want for revenge in front of the well-being of a comrade. I'm sorry for that Balthier."

Balthier's head snapped up at the princess' statement. . He stared at her blankly for a moment, for some reason he'd not heard Ashe when she spoke, but his father. The others were quite shocked by what she had said. They all knew that her feelings toward the pirate were less than warm

"Excuse me?" he asked, unsure of what he had just heard.

"I said…I said I'm sorry," she stammered, looking from the pirate to the others.

"I'm sorry Ffamran." He could hear it all too clearly in his mind, overwhelming him. He put his hand to his temple in an effort to push the painful memory away. "I'm sorry Ffamran." Suddenly it was all too much, Cid wouldn't leave his thoughts. He closed his eyes, oblivious to the fact that the others were staring at him.

"I'm sorry Ffamran," his father whispered as he gently stroked the boy's hair.

"Stop it, Cid," Balthier pleaded aloud, "Please just stop."

Confused and concerned, the others had completely frozen in place when Balthier seemed to slip into his own little world. Fran rose from the table and went to her partner's side, crouching beside his chair, "Balthier," she cooed, gently stroking his hair, "What is wrong?"

The pirate shuddered as the viera's touch made the memory even more real to him.

"I'm sorry Ffamran…"

Balthier let a choked sob escape his throat, "Please…" he whimpered, unaware that he was slipping from his chair. He was caught by Basch's strong arms, which helped him sink to the ground without incident.

"What's wrong with him?" Ashe asked wide-eyed.

"We'd best get him to his room," Basch said, more to Fran than to the others, ignoring Ashe's question completely.

He pulled the pirate up, supporting most of his weight for him. Balthier seemed capable of letting the two lead him out of the kitchen and down the hall to him room.

"Do you need my help with anything?"

"I do not think so, Captain, I will call if I need help with him," said Fran.

Basch nodded and gave the pirate a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before leaving the room. Fran undid the clasps on Balthier's vest and removed it in order to make him more comfortable. He didn't say anything as she laid the vest over a chair and began to remove his shirt. Sitting down on the bed, she let him lay his head in her lap.

"Tell me what is troubling you Balthier," she cooed, "You miss your father perhaps?"

"Why would I miss that old fool?," he murmured pitifully, his voice strained from trying so hard to hold back his tears.

Fran was silent a moment, "Because it is painful to lose someone you love, even if they have done wrong to you in the past."

Balthier shut his eyes tightly, "He didn't want to be the way he was. He…he couldn't help it…it was Venat. I keep hearing him telling me he's sorry…"

"Balthier, running from this pain will only make it worse. Have you wept since his death?"

"Bunansas don't cry," he whimpered.

"I think you can make an exception Balthier," she said, petting his hair, "No one has to know, if that will make you feel better."

But Balthier couldn't do it, every time a tear threatened to spill down his cheek a voice rang out in his head…

"No son of mine Cries Ffamran!"

…and he wondered if his memories would ever stop haunting him…

The End. Wow that really kinda rambled by the end, but oh well. Hope you enjoyed, review and let me know if you did!