A/N - Only a few chapters left! I think I saved the best for last!

Reviews are always appreciated!

Disclaimer - I do not own Final Fantasy XII, Ashe, or Balthier. Square Enix does. Well, they own Balthier about as much as anyone can.

Chapter 8

Ashe looked longingly at the spot where Balthier had been standing a few moments ago in shock. She saw the wink he gave her, and she thought that the sky pirate was going to put Al-Cid into his place. Instead, Balthier had sent shivers up her spine by kissing the back of her hand. Then, he was gone, and somehow she was now dancing with the Rozarrian prince. A sudden chill came over her, and she realized now how warm and secure she had felt in Balthier's arms, and how desperately she wanted to be held by him again. "I need to find him. I don't want to dance with any other man tonight or for the rest of my life. I have to tell him how I feel," she thought as realization dawned on her.

The Prince was babbling something to her, and she quickly quieted him. "I have to go, Al-Cid, I'm sorry. There is something that I must attend to." She stepped away with determination, and made her way through the couples moving around on the floor. She scanned the crowd, looking for him, but she did not see him anywhere. However, she did see Fran dancing with Basch, and made her way over to them.

"Have either of you seen Balthier?" she abruptly asked.

Basch shook his head. Fran spoke, "I have not seen him since the two of you were dancing earlier."

She left the couple with matching confused looks. She did not have time to explain, and she could feel her anxiety growing. How could she possibly put into words the choking fear that crept into her mind at the mere thought of being abandoned by him again? She searched the room with her eyes, concentrating on the seated guests, looking for his signature smirk. She still did not see him anywhere, but she saw Penelo motion for her attention. She walked over to the table where her friends had been sitting earlier.

"Penelo, have you seen Balthier?"

"I have just a few moments ago. He asked me to give you this," her friend stated as she offered Ashe a folded piece of paper.

Her breath hitched in her throat and the room started to spin in sickening slow motion, as a disgusting feeling of déjà vu washed over her. She thought she was going to faint, and steadied herself using the chair in front of her.

"Please don't tell me he's gone." She whispered in agony, "I don't think I can handle…I can't handle…losing him again."

Penelo reached out to her, and patted her arm reassuringly. "It's okay, Ashe. I told him that given his history I would have to look at it first. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by its contents."

She looked at her friend's honest smile, and trusted what she was telling her. She took a very deep breath to steady herself, and opened the note. His loopy, flowing script read, "I will see you tonight once you retire. I want to have you all to myself, without interruptions and prying eyes." She blushed at the undertone of his words as she folded the note closed.

"Thank you for giving me this and for bringing him tonight, Penelo."

"No need to thank me." The young sky pirate smirked, "I wanted to be the bearer of good news for a change."

She smiled at the girl and nodded. As she walked away, she couldn't help but be excited at the thought of seeing her leading man tonight.

It was in the wee hours of the morning when Ashe was finally able to retire to her bedchamber after the coronation ball. She had told Denia to get some rest, but the stubborn maid would only do so after running her bath water. Ashe was currently soaking herself in the tub, trying to ease some of the tension out of her muscles. On the way to her bedroom after the coronation ball, she had been stopped by one of her most trusted advisors, Smyth. He had asked her several questions, most of which were regarding the unknown man that had been her dancing partner. He had felt the need to remind her that she had to be mindful of the company she kept as Queen. Ashe had felt the need to remind him that if she wanted his opinion on the matter she would ask for it.

She knew that Smyth was only doing his job, but his commentary had soured her jubilant mood. She knew it was going to be difficult to explain her feelings about the sky pirate to her advisors; she had come to value their opinion and knew that they would not approve. As far as they were concerned, he was a commoner, and even worse, a criminal. She sighed loudly as she tried to put those ideas out of her head. "You're getting ahead of yourself, Ashe," she mumbled. None of it really mattered anyway—Balthier was a free spirit and would not want to be tied down. There was nothing to explain to her advisors because he would surely not stay in Rabanastre. Smyth need not worry about damage to her public perception, as he would never see her "company" again. In fact, if she had to face reality, Balthier's note had promised nothing more than tonight.

Her hands began to shake at the realization that his departure from her life was imminent. She was torn—not sure which was worse—a life devoid of Balthier, or one where he was there and then gone. Was it better to never love, or love fully for just a moment? Ashe let her mind wander back, to a time not long ago, when she thought she would never see his cocky grin again. In that frightening but crystal-clear mindset, she realized that one night with the man she adored was better than none.

After she finished her bath, she sat at her vanity and began brushing her hair as she tried to decide what she should wear. Ashe had an idea of what Balthier's intentions for his visit were, and if she had to wager, they were anything but innocent. Normally, she would balk at being some man's eye candy, scoffing at the concept of prettying herself up just to be ogled. Tonight was an exception—if that was all she had, she intended to make it count. She grinned as the perfect outfit sprang into her mind, "I know exactly what will drive him mad."

She walked over to her wardrobe, and began to dig through the clothes. Way in the back, she found her traveling ensemble from their journey. She decided against wearing the whole thing; she just needed the skirt. She slid it on, and then found a white corset to pair it with. She glanced at herself in the mirror; "Perfect," she thought. It was a little revealing, so it was sure to get the sky pirate's attention.

She walked out onto her balcony, and sat down at the table. "I'll just sit here for a moment." As she waited, she could feel her eyelids begin to droop. She shifted around in her seat, trying to fight off sleep. Her coronation and subsequent ball had left her exhausted, but tonight was going to be equally important and amazing, and she needed to stay awake. "He should be here soon," she thought hazily as fatigue overcame her.