The day of the party...

*knock knock*

"It's open."

"Ayva, are you ready?"

Ayva turned and looked at Yukino. "Does it look OK?"

Yukino beamed at her. "You look wonderful!"

Ayva smiled in relief. "Good, I was so worried..."

Yukino chuckled. "You look beautiful, don't worry. Come on, everyone's waiting in the lobby."

Rogue stood with the others as they waited for Ayva and Yukino. He himself was dressed in black boots with a lilac shirt and black pants under a dark wine colored coat decorated with white and gold. He kept his hair back as he usually did, but he didn't like wearing such fancy clothes.

"Ah, and there are the lovely ladies we've been waiting for." Rufus said, smiling as he gave a small bow. "May I say how beautiful you both look tonight?"

Yukino giggled and looked at Rogue as his gaze was drawn to Ayva, a smile spreading on her face as his cheeks burned nearly as red as Rufus' normal attire.

Ayva looked at Rogue, blushing herself.

"Wow, Ayva, you really know how to clean up!" Sting said, smiling. "That dress looks amazing on you, right Rogue?"

Rogue cleared his throat as Sting nudged him and he nodded. "Yes, it does." He looked her over, taking in the image of her in a wysteria purple, cyan, and white dress that hung elegantly against her body. Her hair was curled her eyes were colored with silver. 'She's beautiful..!'

"Well, now that everyone's here, the carriage is waiting for us outside."

Everyone filed out of the inn and into the carriage, Rogue and Sting taking a few motion sickness capsules from Yukino- who had gotten them from a friend of hers from Fairy Tail.

It didn't take too long before they reached the palace, but as the carriage pulled to a stop Ayva saw something strange through the window that made her heart leap out of her chest.

"Elyon...?"

The others looked at her, seeing her face had drained of color.

"Ayva?"

Ayva pushed her way to the carriage door, throwing it open and running to the other side, looking everywhere.

"Ayva, what's up?"

"Are you alright?"

Ayva stood there, staring into nothing bu darkness and the few lights coming from the palace. "It couldn't have been him..."

"What?"

Ayva looked back at the others and shook her head. "Sorry, it's nothing."

Assuring the others she was fine and following them into the palace for the party, Ayva took one last look behind them- so many thoughts and emotions running through her mind.

The party was bustling as one would expect, many partaking in the food and drink while others talked or danced.

Rogue had caught up with old friends in other guilds and noticed Ayva was standing off to the side alone, a perplexed look on her face.

"Ayva?"

Ayva looked up as Rogue joined her, offering her a drink. "Thanks."

"Is everything alright?"

Ayva sighed. "I don't know..."

"Do you want to go somewhere to talk?"

Ayva looked at him and nodded, taking his arm as he offered it to her.

Rogue took them outside onto one of the balconies and they stood looking out over the city, taking in the night scenery from a new height and perspective.

"What's bothering you?"

Ayva took a sip of her drink, noticing that it was a Sanguine Korlan champagne. "Back at the carriage, I thought I saw someone..."

"Elyon?"

Ayva nodded. "It couldn't be him, though..."

"Who is he?"

"My little brother."

Rogue looked at her, seeing the sadness and confusion in her eyes. "Didn't you tell me that he had died when Lilvelone fell?"

Ayva nodded. "Yes... I watched them torture him and throw his broken and bloodied body at my feet..." She reached up and wiped the tears that were beginning to slip down her cheeks. "I couldn't even bury him or anyone else that was killed that day... the Stonevale Rangers had found me and taken me in before I regained consciousness... when I woke they said that everything had been destroyed and there were no other bodies to be seen..."

"I'm sorry..."

Ayva scoffed at herself, rubbing her forehead. "First I'm too terrified to talk to you after what happened and now I'm seeing ghosts. It's like this world is trying to torture me."

Rogue looked at her. "Why are you afraid?"

Ayva looked at him. "Because I don't have a soul, Rogue, and something keeps telling me that I don't deserve to be happy. I've spent too long being alone and lost, feeling nothing but emptiness in my life." She sighed and turned away. "But even still, when I'm with you it's like I have a soul again. You makes me feel whole. And when you kissed me, it was a moment of utter and pure happiness. But I got scared and pushed you away, running like a coward."

Rogue set his drink down and took hers, placing it next to his. "Ayva, there's nothing to be afraid of." He took her hands in his and looked down at her. "Since you came to our guild, I haven't been able to get you out of my head. It doesn't matter to me that you don't have a soul. I can see the kind of person you are regardless and I admire her immensely. You've been through so much and yet you've overcome all of it. You found a path that you want to follow and you've proven your worth. You're strong, beautiful, and kind. When any of us look at you smiling and laughing, finding a way to be happy despite everything that's happened to you, we forget that you don't have a soul."

Ayva searched his garnet red eyes, feeling tears slipping down her cheeks. "Most of my life, people have avoided me as much as they could. I've always been alone. Coming to work with Sabertooth changed that. You changed that." She looked down. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I ran... I'm sorry I've been too scared to talk to you..."

Rogue lifted up her chin, leaning down to kiss her as he drew her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her.

Ayva gasped, her eyes widening, but she gave in and pushed away the voice in her head. Her hands rested against his chest as he drew her closer, his arms encircling her.

When he pulled away, Rogue reached up to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "You don't ever have to be scared again, Ayva. You don't ever have to face the world alone again. I want to stand with you, support you, be there for you." He pressed his forehead against hers. "But only if you let me." He looked at her. "Will you let me do that for you?"

Ayva nodded and returned his kiss, moving her hands up his chest and around to his shoulders- her arms wrapped around his neck.

"I will."