A/N: To anyone who skipped chapter 2, welcome! This chapter is more to do with the aftereffects of last chappy, so nothing too bad, I promise!

To anyone who didn't skip chapter 2, welcome back! The same applies for the above bit, though you may more understand the situation.

Enjoy some Yuri/Flynn fluff!

Lily was just drying her hair off when Estelle burst into the room.

"Yuri! I heard what happened from Flynn, are you alright?" she cried, closing the door behind her before rushing over to Lily's side.

Lily smiled wanly. "I'm alright, Estelle. Really." There was no need to tell her about how it had taken Flynn a good two hours before Lily would allow him to even leave the room.

"Well next time you need to go to town, get a couple of the guards to go with you. Oh Yuri, I'm so sorry, I never knew there were people like that in Zaphias..."

"There are people like that everywhere, Estelle. And it's fine. Please, I just..want to go to sleep and forget about it," Lily sighed.

Estelle nodded. "Of course. Well, sleep well," she murmured, hugging Lily one last time before walking out of the room. Lily went to the bed, curling up on the covers and closing her eyes as she tried to block out the images in her head.

Flynn was doing his last patrol of the corridors before he turned in for the night, having abandoned most of his armour and only carrying his sword at his side. Luckily all of the sleeping quarters were in the same area, so it was easy enough to do a quick sweep then finish at his own room and turn in for the night.

He passed Estelle's room, listening briefly and satisfied to hear the light breathing of the princess, then moved on. He checked everyone else's room, noting with surprise that Yuri's new rooms were pretty close to his own, and approached the door. He stopped at it, listening, and was about to move on when he heard a faint whimper.

The sound was so faint he thought he had imagined it at first, so remained to make sure. When he heard a tiny sniffle and another whimper, he knew it wasn't his imagination and pushed the door open.

"Yuri?" he whispered into the room. A lump on the bed moved and he looked at it. Frowning, he crossed over and gently reached out for the covers. He lifted them up slightly, and heard a startled squeal then the sound of movement as Yuri moved away from him. Black eyes gazed out from under the covers, bright and scared, and he was taken back several years to when he and Yuri were still small children living on the streets of Zaphias.

That absolute terror worried him, and he found himself reacting the same way he had all those years ago; pushing the blankets back further, revealing the child below. Except this child was a twenty three year old female.

This had scared Yuri more than he had thought, he realised, though it wasn't surprising. It was one thing to know you could still do something. It was another to be completely at the other's mercy.

"Shh, it's okay Yuri. It's me, Flynn," he murmured.

The black eyes still stared at him with fear, and he sighed. Shedding the rest of his armour and his sword, he showed he was completely defenseless, and waited for Yuri's jurisdiction.

Yuri eyed him warily, raising himself slightly to get a better look at him. Finally, deeming him safe enough, he approached slowly.

This is just like all those years ago, Flynn found himself thinking, except that we're both adults and Yuri is female right now.

So Flynn went along with it. He knelt, so that he and Yuri were eye-level, and smiled gently. Yuri watched him for a moment, then reached out and placed his hand on his head. Flynn jumped, then remembered Yuri had done this as well. He'd done it with most new people, the ones he deemed safe at least.

Slowly Yuri's expression cleared, and he gazed at Flynn. "...Flynn?" he asked quietly.

"That's right. I'm sorry, I wouldn't have come in, but you sounded upset."

"Oh, sorry...Did I wake you?"

"No, I was doing my rounds anyway. Yuri...are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. You should go to bed, you need your rest."

Yuri lay back down on the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin, and closing his eyes to feign sleep. Flynn sighed, then went along with it, standing up and heading out.

Instead of going to his room, he went to Estelle's. He gently knocked on the door, then entered. He crossed over to Estelle's bed, gently touching her shoulder, and she blinked awake. Looking at him, she gazed at him fuzzily before smiling.

"Flynn? What's the matter?" she asked.

"I'm going to stay with Yuri tonight, okay? Can you make sure to tell everyone to not enter until I've come out? I'm worried about him and how he'll react to everybody."

Estelle nodded, her eyes alert, and he knew she wouldn't forget. "Alright. Well, sweet dreams," she murmured, kissing him lightly. He kissed her back, then headed out of the room. He closed the door quietly behind him then went over to Yuri's room, opening the door.

Yuri was sitting curled up on the bed, the covers drawn about him, but he raised his head as Flynn entered.

"What are you doing here? I told you to go to bed," Yuri muttered.

"I am going to bed," Flynn replied, working his boots off and placing them on the side, then pulling off his jacket and hanging it up.

Yuri looked at him in surprise, then raised an eyebrow. "And what if someone comes in and gets the wrong idea?" he challenged.

"They won't," Flynn assured him, crossing over to the bed and sitting down on it. Yuri remained where he was, and Flynn sighed. "What, am I not allowed to have any covers?" he asked.

Yuri slowly uncurled, lying back down on the bed and passing one corner over to him. Flynn smiled and took them, lying on the bed and pulling the covers over him. He turned so that he was facing Yuri, gave his best friend a reassuring smile, then closed his eyes.

Eventually the two of them fell asleep. A few hours passed before Flynn woke up to the sound of Yuri's whimper. He gazed at his friend, seeing his face tight with fear, and sighed.

"Yuri...you idiot," he murmured, reaching out and pulling Yuri to him. He kept his arms around Yuri, and slowly his friend relaxed, lightly hugging him back. Flynn smiled and closed his eyes, revelling in the warmth. This was so much like the old days...the days when it was just the two of them and they relied on each other for warmth and security. Many a night spent sleeping like this, cuddled against each other.

It was this remembered warmth and security that eventually calmed Yuri down, and Flynn relaxed as well. He closed his eyes, hugging Yuri tighter, also drifting off to sleep.

Flynn woke up to happily singing birds and sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains. He gave a little snuffle, not really wanting to wake up but knowing he'd have to. He'd slept longer than he had for a while now, and he needed to get on with work.

Blinking his eyes open, he found himself with his face in Yuri's hair. The scent of lavender and jasmine filled his nostrils, and he smiled. This scent always reminded him of Yuri, because no matter where they were or what had happened, Yuri always smelled of it. Even when they were ragged little orphans, having not washed for days, Yuri still smelled of this.

He carefully disentangled himself from Yuri, hearing the other boy-now-girl give a little whine of protest before roll over and fall asleep again. Flynn shook his head with, smoothing out the creases in his uniform and pulling on his jacket and boots again.

He was just slipping on the few pieces of armour he had when Yuri gave a wide yawn and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Mmm..s'it morning already?" he muttered, looking around blearily.

"And good morning to you as well, Yuri," Flynn greeted, buckling his sword on.

Yuri gazed at him a moment, his expression becoming more troubled as he did, and Flynn marvelled at how easy it was to tell Yuri's emotions now that he was a girl. Finally Yuri curled up, placing his chin on his knees.

"..I'm gonna stay in the castle today," he murmured.

"I whole-heartedly agree. I would keep you company, but I need to get on with work."

Yuri gazed at him for a moment, then gave a cheeky grin. "Alright, I'll come mooch off you in a bit," he said with a laugh, and Flynn rolled his eyes before heading to the door.

"Stop by Estelle's room as well, I think she was worried about you," Flynn suggested, before leaving the room.

Now back in female persona, Lily walked down the corridor happily, avoiding pretty much everyone as she headed to the throne room. She'd tried Estelle's rooms, but the maid said that she had left to greet some visitors, so Lily figured she may as well head over there to wait.

Reaching the hall, she pushed the door opened and entered. Immediately several people's attention was switched over to her, and she noted with surprise that Karol and Raven were the 'visitors' that Estelle had come to greet.

Determined not to appear worried and not really wanting them to find out, she smiled at Estelle.

"Hi Estelle..ise. F-Commandant Flynn said you wanted to have a word with me?" she managed to get up, tripping a couple of times but not managing too bad.

Estelle seemed to realise she didn't want it spreading any further and smiled. "Ah, Lily. Yes, I'm just having a word with our visitors and then we can go talk, alright?"

Lily nodded, heading for the door, then froze as a hand landed on her shoulder.

"Well you're a pretty one, aintcha?" she heard Raven drawl. 'Don't panic, he does this with all girls, don't panic..'

But all she could remember was a hand on her shoulder, turning to face a partially drunk guy who thought she was pretty, and then being dragged down an alley. It was too much of a repeat, Raven was even slightly drunk, and she felt her breathing pick up.

"Please let go," she said, tightly controlling her voice.

"Why? Whassa matter? Don't want to get ta know Raven the Great?"

Another two seconds and she would snap. She could feel it.

Then a hand was gently removing Raven's palm, taking her hand gently.

"I'm sorry Raven, but Lily's had a bad experience with men and doesn't like to be touched by many. Please refrain from putting her in any uncomfortable positions," Estelle said politely, but her voice was like steel. Raven winced.

"Ooh, what a shot. You wound me, Estelle, wound."

Estelle managed to not roll her eyes, but instead gave a tight smile. "I'm afraid that's all I have time for today. I'll speak to you later," she said, leading Lily out of the room.

They reached Estelle's rooms, and Estelle had barely shut the door when Lily fell to her knees, shaking. Estelle quickly joined her, wrapping her arms around her and soothing her.

"It's okay. I promise, no one will hurt you here," she murmured.

"I just want to be back to normal, Estelle. I don't want to feel this weak any more," Lily choked. Estelle gave a vague smile, continuing to rock her.

"I'm sure Rita will find an answer to the solution soon," she said gently, brushing her hand through Lily's hair.

A/N: See where I was going at the start of this now? The weakness of being a girl by a person who was originally a man...the fears we face because of our weakness...That was my entire reason for the fic.

But he won't always be like this! I promise!

(Stupid Raven...)

Review?