Sorry for the overdue update! My life has been majorly hectic... I recently became the teacher of a bunch of tiny, adorable second graders. What have I gotten myself into? *slight panic attack* Although this is what I went to college for, so... :p

Just a short, sad chapter about big daddy-issues and disappointed (disappointing) fathers. Even though Balthier strives to bring down his father, I'm sure it was really hard for him to do so, after all the man raised him. Vaan is still good for some stupidity though x3 Some of the dialog in the beginning is based on the dialog from the game.

Disclaimer: SquareEnix owns it all!

Part 9: Doctor Cid

In his final moments, Doctor Cidolfus Demen Bunansa couldn't remember the taste of honey or wine, neither could he remember all his marvelous inventions or the details of all his years of study. What he could remember was the faces of those closest to him; his wife and his three sons.

He hadn't been a good husband for years, and he had been a terrible father for just as long, if not longer. Especially to his youngest, Ffamran, the one who looked the most like his father, the one responsible for his downfall. Which in it's own way was rather fitting, since Cid had been the cause of Ffamran leaving his old life and his family behind. Being pushed into being a Judge at sixteen wasn't all that grand, that he realized now, along with all his other mistakes.

It was too late to apologize, and neither would he ever do so.

Ffamran tried to make his way towards him, where he lay disgraced on the floor, but Venat stopped him. There was no reason for it, not anymore. "Let him by, Venat. It is done." It was hard to utter the words, but he had to look his son in the eyes just one last time. Venat turned towards him. "Ah, how I have enjoyed these six years."

The otherworldly voice of Venat resonated in the stone hall. "The pleasure was all mine." And then it disappeared, allowing Ffamran to pass.

The look of hurt and betrayal crossed his son's face. "Was there no other way?"

"Heh! Spend your pity elsewhere. If you're so set on running, hadn't you best be off?" His words were meant to hurt, but that was not truly what was in his heart. "Fool of a pirate..."

And those would be the last words spoken to the son who had held his highest hopes. The son he had always prided himself with, the son who had broken his heart when he ran away. Ffamran, who had been to much of his own mind to let an old fool like himself dictate his future.

In a way, Cid was proud. Not that his son had become a pirate, or chose to consort with Viera and rebel princesses, or that he had pierced his ears and wore colorful rings and bracelets like a school-girl. He was proud because his son had become his own man, and that he carried himself like he was the king of Ivalice.

His body turned into mist, golden, light mist, which washed over his son and his companions, and for that short moment, before everything went black and Cidolfus Demen Bunansa was no more, he could see the heart of those gathered.

His son was heartbroken, already grieving for a father he had lost six years ago, but there were good memories there as well. Of a father teaching his son to read, to hold a sword, fire a gun, playing in the garden and singing the same old lullaby over and over again.

Fran, Ffamran's Viera partner, was worried about her best friend, and Cid could feel the devotion they carried for each other.

And the princess Ashe, her heart was easy to read, and it radiated love for his son.

Had the old man still had lips, he would have grinned broadly. Some things Ffamran had taken from his father, besides his dashing good looks. He was apparently quite the stealer of hearts, and if his son's was anything to go by, their feelings were mutual.

With that, somewhat, comforting thought to guide him, Cid let himself become nothing.

...

"Are you OK?" For some reason, Penelo was the first to dare approach Balthier.

The rest of their group had decided to let the downbeat pirate alone until he decided to talk to them again, Fran of course had shared a few words with him before they sat down to rest. After everything which had happened, there really was no wonder why he opted to sit alone for a little while, processing. But a little while had come and gone, and Penelo was the first to try break the silence.

"Yes," Balthier, to everyone's surprise, got up and dusted himself off. "It was the only option, the only right thing to do. Venat's control over Cid was to complete, and his powers to great. At least I got to see a small glimpse of my father before he passed on."

Fran put a gentle hand on her partner's shoulder, and he gave her a grateful smile. Basch, who knew only to well what damage family could leave on your soul, nodded his head in support and Ashe discreetly grabbed his hand, which Balthier took gladly.

"Wait!" Vaan scratched his head in confusion. "Was Cid your dad?"

Penelo smacked her childhood friend upon the head, before they started walking off, leaving Vaan behind in utter confusion.

"And who is this 'Ffamran' he kept talking about?!"