So anyway…here we go again. Enjoy and review chapter 3 of this fic, I'm gonna get all three of the fics I'm working on updated sometime tonight but it's really hard to do three at a time so bear with me. Anyway, hope you're enjoying it.

This Is Who I Am

Chapter 3

"What the hell are you talking about?" shouted Basch as he struggled to keep up with Balthier's pace, "What did that Bangaa tell you?"

Balthier shook his head and spun around, grabbing Basch by the elbow and pulling him into a nearby alley, "Seraph's real name is Garem. Garem Astrae Dalmasca," he studied Basch's face a minute, expecting a reaction, "Don't you understand what I'm saying! He's Ashe's younger brother, only for some reason no one's ever known about him."

Basch stared at him blankly.

Balthier cursed under his breath, "This was never about me, don't you see? If Ashe dies that monster is legal heir to the throne! He's gotten himself in league with Cid, not to get to me, but to get to her! And I took her right to him!"

"You're saying he lied about being in love with you so many years ago…to get to Ashe?"

Balthier cursed again, "That doesn't even make sense Basch, think! I didn't even know Ashe then. He was following her when he found me, not the other way around. And when he saw a chance to get what he wanted he took it."

"Then why not just kidnap her that night, he could have just as easy for Shemhazai's sake! Why take Vaan?"

Balthier sighed, "That I don't know, but you can ask him before I kill him. Right now, we need to have a little talk with Ashe and find out just what the hell is going on."

Basch couldn't argue with that.

Once everyone was gathered in the main room of the Strahl Balthier realized he didn't really know how to even broach such a huge subject, "Is there something you wanted to tell us Princess?"

She looked at him with a blank expression, "Uh, no, not that I know of."

"So you nothing has happened lately that threw you for a loop?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"It's been an eventful few weeks I'll admit, but I don't think I know what you're getting at."

Balthier was getting annoyed, "So you didn't think it prudent to mention that the man who kidnapped Vaan is your brother?"

"Excuse me?" she gasped.

"You can't expect me to believe you didn't know you had a brother. I want to know when you were planning on telling us."

Her expression became angry, "I don't know what you're talking about, that man is NOT my brother. Garem ran away ten years ago, he…he's probably dead. And frankly I don't think it's any of your business!"

"So you do have a brother then," he said smugly, "You know when you're part of a group like this, where people put their lives on the line for you every day one shouldn't keep secrets that might be important!"

Ashe stood and put her hands on her hips, "Oh you mean like how you hid it from us that Dr. Cid was your father? Or maybe how you're dying and this whole little quest is just about you getting revenge before its too late!"

The room fell silent.

"What's she talking about Balthier?"

The pirate squeezed his eyes shut at the panic in Vaan's voice, "Basch did I or did I not ask you to keep your mouth shut?"

Basch looked as shocked as the others did, "I swear to you Balthier, I said nothing."

"He didn't," said Ashe, "He talks in his sleep."

"How exactly would you know that?" asked Balthier smugly.

Basch intervened, "That isn't important, let's just deal with the matter at hand right now."

"Balthier I asked you a question," Vaan's voice had taken on a tone Balthier had not ever heard him use.

He sighed, and suddenly Ashe felt guilty for saying anything, "I'm sorry, Balthier," she whispered, "I…I didn't think before I spoke."

He nodded, "It's ok. It's my own fault, I should have said something before now."

"Would anyone mind telling us what the hell is going on?" asked Penelo, who had been watching the battle of words silently from beside Fran.

Balthier sat down, his expression sad, and took Vaan in his arms, "I…shit how do I even start…"

Basch put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and Balthier continued, "Fran was right when she said something may have not healed right in my brain. There's…there's a tumor, and well, Ashe pretty much summed it up...I'm dying."

No one moved. No one spoke. You could have heard a pin drop.

Balthier had felt Vaan tense against him, but the boy didn't say anything.

He looked around, waiting for anyone to say something, but no one did. Fran shook her head, and simply walked away. He knew she was angry that he hadn't told her. He couldn't really blame her. Vaan, on the other hand, was frightening him.

"Vaan?"

The boy didn't answer, so Balthier picked him up and carried him out of the room. Neither said anything as he laid him gently on their bed. They sat in silence for a long time, Vaan stared off into space, and Balthier watched him intently.

"I'm sorry Vaan," he said finally, "I wanted to tell you, but…I just want you to be happy, I didn't want to hurt you."

"I know."

"I don't want you to be mad…"

"I'm not."

"Don't just lay there Vaan, please talk to me," Balthier begged.

"Are you afraid?"

Balthier thought a moment, "Only of being without you."

Vaan shook his head, "Don't worry. I could never stay in a world without you in it."

Balthier looked at him, horrified, "Vaan…No. Don't you even think things like that."

Vaan just looked at him, and said nothing.

To Be Continued…

Don't panic guys. There is always hope for our heroes. Review if you want to see more!