Hi, again! Thanks to a bunch of hits, mctf, DragonMaster75, SilverZero0 and all of you random readers, I've got some motivation again! I'm (one again) sorry for not updating, but school is right around the corner, and I've been very busy. Sorry for the wait, but If anyone yells at me, I'll just tell them that genius can't be rushed.

This chapter was mostly written to make all of my past and future chapters more easy to understand. And, ironicly, the past and the future is what this chapter is all about!

Although this chapter is mostly seriousness and discussion, please enjoy it!

Everyone was gathered around the fire. The flames flickered and danced along the logs in the fireplace. All of the Christmas decorations were down and replaced with strings of light, to celebrate for New Year's. In each of their hands was a cup of steaming Hot Chocolate.

"I love sitting like this." Colette said, after a sip of Hot Chocolate.

"The fire reminds me of being back in Mizuho." Sheena said, staring at the flames. She smirked a bit before adding more to her sentance. "Before I was sent to kill you guys."

"I've been thinking we needed to dicuss that." Raine said, staring into the fire "Our past and our future."

"You say it so dramatically that it scares me!" Zelos cried.

"It's not drama. It's the truth. And if you don't wish to participate, you can head back to Meltokio." Raine had a stern look on her face.

"P-Professor!" Colette exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, Colette, but this is too important for jokes."

Lloyd and Genis, upon hearing that, sat up with wide eyes.

"I've noticed that we've mostly been slacking off and straying from our original goals."

Presea cocked her head to the side "Our original...goals?"

"Yes, Presea. I have reason to believe that when we reunited, you intended on doing so with your own personal drive."

"So, you think that we need to stop being so laid back and actually... accomplish...somthing, other than getting rid of the remaining monsters?" Loyd asked, hoping he'd understand.

"Yes." Raine replied.

"Well, what makes ya think that?"

Raine hesitated a moment. She needed an example, a way of explaining. Then, she had an idea. "Genis," she said.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"Do you remember what we told Altessa, before we knew we were going to join back up again?"

"Of course! We said that we were going around, making easier for half-elves to live in this world!"

Raine nodded. "Yes..."

"Oh, I see, now! You believe that because of our personal reasons, we became a group again. And, now that were a group, if were not acheveing any of those goals, then what's the point?" Genis exclaimed.

"Presicily."

At that moment, Colette opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out.

"Colette, were you about to say something?" Sheena asked.

"No, no. Um, it's fine don't worry about it."

"No, you definatly were about to say something. Come on Colette, what is it?"

"I-it's just that, well, although it may bother you guys, I see nothing wrong with taking a break and having some fun. I mean, before there was always so much going on and we had to be alert every minute. But, now, I think what's best for the world is to let it take it's time to heal."

"Although it sounds lazy, I have to agree with Colette. We've worked our rear-ends of for the past, what, year? two years?" Zelos said.

"Fine," Raine said. "But with that being said, what're we goning to do now?"

The room was silent except for the crackling of the flames. Everyone was at a lost for words and Raine's last sentance hung in the air, suspened in their minds.

No one said anything for so long that when the Inn door swung open they were extremely startled.

"Um, Special Delivery for Mr. Bryant! Man, it's COLD out there! If I had known it was gonna snow, I would've stayed in Altimira until tomarrow!" The person in the doorway exclaimed. Raine glared at the postman as Regal stood up and walked over to the mailman.

"Hey, there. You're a buff guy. I'll make sure to be more polite, or you'll beat me up, right?"

"My name is Regal Bryant. I am the President of the Lezoreno Company."

"Holy cow! YOU'RE Mr. Bryant? I-I'm sorry if I offended you, I-I had no idea..." The mailman exclaimed. "Uh, If you can forgive me, this is from Hotel Lezoreno and it looks important. I'd open it soon, if I were you. And, um now that my buisness here is done, I'll just head back." The postman slipped back out the door.

"Jeez, what a creep." Lloyd remarked. "Anyways, what'd you get Regal?" Everyone got up and gathered around Regal with wide eyes. Regal read the letter outloud.

"Dear Mr. Bryant,

We are pleased to inform you that you and your seven closest aquaintences have been invited to the Town-wide Annual Valentine's day Party. Please arrive at 5:00 pm on the 14th of February. Please have the color red ammungst your attire and reply before the 15th of January. We hope that you'll agree to join us in our grand celebration, your precence would be much appriciated.

Hotel Lezoreno"

"Wow! We've been invited to a party!" Colette exclaimed.

"Colette, were you even listening? It's a Valentine's party, which means that we have to have dates in order to attend." Genis told Colette.

"Well," Zelos grinned "dates shouldn't be to hard to find, especially for the Great Zelos!"

"You're still holding onto that name? You're not even a Chosen of Mana anymore!" Sheena exclaimed.

"I may not be a Chosen, but I'm still great!"

Sheena rolled her eyes "Whatever..."

"Anyways, back to the point. If we want to go, we need to find dates." Lloyd said, cutting of Sheena and Zelos from their argument.

Everyone was silent, as they hadn't a clue what to do. After a while, Sheena finally spoke up.

"Well, what if we just paired off, pretending we were each other's dates?"

"What?" Lloyd exclaimed.

"If you think about it, it just might work." Genis thought out loud.

"What!" Lloyd yelled again.

"Think about it, Lloyd. That way, not only would it save us time, but then all we have to do is pair ourselves off. I personally think that it'll work." Genis explained.

"Well, If we're gonna do that, we should pair Genis with Presea, because their the youngest."

It was Genis's turn to say 'what?' "WHAT?" and Presea turned a deep crimson.

"It makes sense. I mean, say we paired Presea with Regal, wouldn't that look a bit...abnormal?" Sheena said.

"Ok, with that settled, let's pair Raine and Regal, because their the oldest!" Zelos exclaimed.

Raine slapped Zelos, and slapped him hard.

"OOOOOOOOWWWW!" Zelos yelled. "Genis is right, you're punishments ARE harsh!" 10 seconds later, Zelos regreted opening his mouth, because Raine smacked him again.

"Ok, that leaves Lloyd, Colette, Zelos and Sheena. Our options are: Lloyd with Colette and Sheena with Zelos, or Lloyd with Sheena and Colette with Zelos." Genis pushed along. Lloyd, Colette, Zelos and Sheena looked at each other okwardly. They all wanted the first option, but all of them were to embarresed to say so. Genis grinned evily before cutting his friends some slack.

"Ok, how about Lloyd with Colette, because they've been friends since forever and Sheena with Zelos because they both were from Tethe'alla, until it morphed with Sylvarant" Colette and Lloyd agreed and Zelos and Sheena pretended to disagree.

"Alright. Now, with that setteled, It's a custom to arrive a month early to Altimira before any festivities, so we should plan our departure. " Regal informed.

Ok, You impatient readers! It's done and it only took me two months! I promise to have the next chapter done faster than this one, so there won't be as much waiting!

SPOILER: If I had decided to name my chapters, the next one would definatly be called 'Decisions and Confessions'