He felt sick.

Sitting by the fountain with a frown etched onto his face, Dunban watched the clouds fill the sky, full and gray. Gone was the sun that had brightened the sky and shone down on the city of the High Entia. Now it was dark. It would rain soon, which exactly matched his mood. It had been three days since he'd given Melia his letters. Three days and he had yet to hear from her. Certainly that did not bode well. He clenched his jaw as he turned his gaze towards the escalators leading to the Great Hall. Of course he had prepared himself for such an outcome (at least he believed he had). Too much time had passed; she did not feel as strongly as she once did; she could never forgive him for leaving. Perhaps it was none of those reasons; perhaps it was all of them.

But the man could not leave, regardless of how things appeared. He wouldn't leave until she had given him a direct answer and only if the answer came from her lips would he believe it. The small candle of hope still burned inside him, though it burned less brightly than it had three days ago.

An inward sigh led to the release of strain in his shoulders; the Homs hadn't realized he had tensed his upper body as during his ruminations. Rising from his seat, he headed for the city's entryway. Spending some time outside the Diamond City would do him good he thought. It would help take his mind off of his current situation and the interminable waiting, as there was no telling when she would give him an answer, and he did want her to take as much time as she needed (though part of him desired the answer sooner than later). Therefore, exercise would be the best remedy; fighting beasts over on Kromar Coast would not only exhaust his body, but also tire his mind as well.

As Dunban reached the entrance, he heard his name. Turning, he saw James striding towards him. His stomach flipped over; why was Melia's bodyguard looking for him?

"James. How are you?"

He stuck out his hand and James took it, giving the customary handshake.

"Fine. Rather busy, actually. Do you have a second?"

The man nodded and they moved away from the main gate. They paused on the side of the main road as a hover bus passed by, lifting a swirl of dust in its wake. The Homs focused on James, feeling his pulse quicken, but kept his countenance resolute.

"I wanted to talk with you about the Empress."

Dunban nodded once more, watching the Homs Entia, waiting for the hammer to fall.

"How is she?"

"Busy also. But she never tires. You know that." James smiled. "Though that doesn't mean she's not overburdened."

"Especially given the change in government."

"Exactly. But you know she's only doing what she must in order to remain neutral in all the proceedings. Which means she has more time to breathe these days."

James fell silent and Dunban creased his lips into a thin line. Neither spoke for the next minute and the tension grew thick in the air.

"What's going on, James?"

"I don't know what's happening between the two of you now and it's not my place to comment." James said, his face solemn.

"If you're threatening me, Tyrea has already done that."

"Somehow, I'm not surprised." He grinned and shook his head. "But that's not why I'm here."

Dunban crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing.

"I'm delivering this, actually." He produced an envelope from his pocket. "The Empress is hosting a small gathering tonight to celebrate the transition. This is your invitation."

This was a surprise.

A cold chill settled over the man.

It could only mean that Melia was going to tell him tonight. She would give her answer at this party. It seemed that fate had heard his thoughts and wished to intervene.

The Homs took a hold of the invitation, but James did not let go. Instead, the High Entia gave the man a knowing look. "We may not have always seen eye to eye, but we both want what's best for her, right?"

"Absolutely."

"I trust you will keep that in mind whenever you speak with her."

"I always do."

Nodding, the High Entia let go of the envelope and Dunban took it, turning it over in his hands, feeling the weight of the paper and the impending meeting. Maybe she simply wanted to see him and was not ready to give an answer. Perhaps she needed more information. Either way, he would not pressure her to speak this evening unless she wished it.

"I don't know if you realized, but the Empress has changed since you left."

"I have. In some ways, she is much more open that she has ever been." Dunban recalled first seeing her in the courtyard with her people. He would never have thought she would be comfortable doing such a thing a year and a half earlier.

"Yes. But that's not all. There have been times when she has withdrawn completely. They happen intermittently without warning." There was a slight sadness to his voice.

"Does Tyrea know what's happening?"

"No. Tyrea's tried to talk with her about it, but the Empress refuses to say anything. And then the phase passes and she is back to normal, as it were." James paused and shrugged. "I'm not sure why I told you that. I'm not it even sure it matters."

But it did. Things that went unspoken would be influencing Melia in her every decision, including her response to him.

Internally, his mind turned over James' words once more. What was she experiencing? And was this part of the reason why she was keen on giving up absolute power? His concern rose; was she in some sort of danger?

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I want her to be happy. I know how she feels about you. Or how she felt."

It stung, but Dunban's face remained impassive.

"That sounds like something Serenity said to me."

"We're not the only ones who think so." James narrowed his eyes. "But if you hurt her again..."

"That's the last thing I want."

"Good. Well, maybe I will see you tonight then." He nodded and turned away, heading back into the heart of the city.

Dunban looked down at the envelope in his hand, contemplating its meaning once more. He knew he was going tonight; that was not a question. But he was afraid of what he would be walking into, and what she would say.

"You are distressed."

Melia looked up from her seat at the kitchen island, surprised. "I am just considering the upcoming elections."

They were in the kitchen in her chambers. She was supposed to be planning a menu for the evening's festivities, but had opted to have lunch first. This was simply a method of procrastination, but she knew Elrich didn't mind since she cooked for him. She had attempted to dismiss her bodyguard, but he was determined to stay at her side this afternoon, especially with James off delivering her invitations. For what reason, she did not know. It was not as if she were in any danger. But the woman had no desire for an argument.

Elrich raised his eyebrows, unimpressed as he eyed the untouched plate of food set out in front of her in comparison to his empty one. "If that were true, you would talk to the People's Council."

"No. I am doing as I said. Removing myself from the situation as this must be done at the will of the people."

"Even so."

"I am also tired. It has been a busy few weeks."

This was true, but also not entirely true. Her exhaustion was due to the lack of sleep in the past three nights. Each night like clockwork it had happened, and once again her sleep cycle was destroyed. It was more than troublesome and tiresome: it was frightening. But there was nothing to be done about it. The woman had to wait for it to pass...again. Most likely it would continue this way for another week or two before the episodes subsided. And then she would have peace once more. So, for now, she would drink many cups of strong, black tea and move through her days as best she could.

Nonetheless, Melia knew that the lack of sleep played on her emotions and she had to watch herself. Especially given the things she would say that evening, which she was still dubious of, she most certainly needed to be mindful of her current condition.

"That is not what's wrong."

"Elrich."

"You are thinking about this evening."

Gazing downward, she did not respond and instead swiveled her fork in the pile of cold soba noodles. It was annoying that he could see through her lies; she was not so convincing in her drained state.

"Dunban."

He was always to the point.

"I do not want to speak about this."

"Fine. Sit and sulk."

Her head shot up and she gave him an icy glare. "I am not sulking."

"Empress, I am not blind." Elrich said, crossing his arms over his chest.

She sighed. "It doesn't matter. I don't know what to do."

"About?"

Melia turned her head away. This was not something she wished to reveal, even if Elrich was offering council. Besides, she knew Elrich's opinion on her ex-lover. It was not exactly...favorable.

"People already assume."

"What?"

"The public admires Dunban."

"And? What are you hinting at?"

"They believe a union between the two of you would be auspicious." He took a drink of his coffee, unperturbed.

Her face flushed crimson.

"How do you know about this?"

"I hear things."

"It seems strange that you of all people would entertain gossip."

"I don't."

"And yet here we are."

Cool, Elrich responded, "It is not gossip. Merely a fact regarding public opinion."

She pursued her lips and did not reply. Instead, the Empress turned back to her food and began to eat. She sat in silence as she chewed, which began as brooding but eventually gave way to acquiescing.

"What else do they say?"

"That's it."

"Oh." Mildly disappointed, she took a bite out of her bread roll, savoring its warmth and freshness.

"If I may, Empress?"

"Of course."

"It's all over. You are not beholden to anyone anymore."

The words rang in her ears. He wasn't just speaking about Dunban, but about everyone and everything. This movement away from the crown that she had devoted herself to meant she could breathe. She could breathe for herself. It was as though she attempted to put it from her mind because it was terrifying. The High Entia only knew a life where she was focused on the well being of others. Not that she minded; it was how she had been brought up: to serve. And it was a foreign concept that this would no longer be the focus of her life.

Everything was about to change, and she was not sure how to handle it. She was not sure what she wanted now.

But she knew it was the right choice. Not just for the people, but for herself. For her mind and body.

"I'd like to be alone, please."

"Of course."

Elrich bowed and walked out of the kitchen, his footsteps quickly moving across the carpet. As the door closed behind him, Melia hugged herself and leaned forward, resting her cheek on the cold surface of the ceramic tiles. A violent pain broke out in her stomach and she closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on Elrich's last words. But it was no use: the cramps consumed her attention and she took deep breaths, trying to breath in and out to soothe her lower abdomen. First the sleeping, now this, but she had been waiting for them. How opportune for them to show up at this very moment. The Homs Entia had hoped it had stopped once and for all two months ago, but she knew that had been wishful thinking at the time. Tomorrow the young woman would go see Bella for a check-up. For now, she would need to live with the pain and just breathe.

The sun had long descended when her guests began to arrive. Melia was still in her washroom putting the last minute touches on her complexion, stalling, feeling the weight on her chest grow heavy, threatening to suffocate her with anxiety. Dressed in a light blue dress that came just past her knees with an off-the-shoulder set of long sleeves and a small v-neck, Melia added a dash of pink to her cheeks and lips, and a light line of kohl to her eyes. It wasn't an occasion that needed a great amount of formality, but she did wish to mark it with a small bit of elegance. After all, in some ways this was a good-bye party: it was the end of an era.

The end of her era.

The end of the restoration.

Moving her lips against each other, the woman gazed at herself in the mirror. Gently, she touched her light purple bangs that were swept to the right of her face, held in place by a massive amount of hairspray. The rest of her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, the wavy tresses falling down her back like a waterfall.

Her heart fluttered in anticipation; she was to see him soon. Their meeting both excited and alarmed her; she still did not know what she would actually say to him. And she knew she had to speak with him this night.

Closing her eyes, she rolled her hands into fists, trying to breathe. A few minutes passed as she imagined the weight lifting off her chest. Gradually, the tightness disappeared and she opened her eyes. She had to go out there now. There could be no more waiting, especially with the anxiety gone for a moment and the cramps silent in her body. Straightening, the young woman opened the door of her washroom and heard the sounds of conversation just on the other side of the closed bedroom door. Delicately, she padded across the soft carpet and leaned against the door, searching for his voice amidst the growing crowd. She strained to hear. First, she picked up Riki's cooing, then Serenity's timid squeal and Tyrea's harsh laugh. There was Elrich's flat tone and James amiable one. A few more more voices of the People's Council. She heard the door open, and a few pointed words.

Then a strong, deep, luscious voice cut through all the noise.

He was here.

Her heart contracted in her chest; she wanted to rush out and see him. Take his hand in hers and kiss him. She wanted to tell him how much she loved the letters. How touched he was that he wrote to her each day of his journey. She wanted to see his smile and the light in his eyes, feel the warmth of his body next to hers.

But a warning shout sounded in her mind and her ears roared. That was dangerous; she could not commit to such action considering how unsure she was of everything: of him, of her place now in High Entian society, of who she was. It was too much to consider all at once. And yet life had chosen to throw this decision her way in the middle of everything.

Well, she would have to face destiny sooner than later. Smoothing out her dress, Melia opened the bedroom door and closed it behind her. Immediately, the woman felt all eyes on her. Plastering a smile onto her face, she swept her gaze over the guests, making sure to not stop on any pair of eyes.

"Thank you all for joining me this evening. I am very grateful for your support and friendship. It has been of much comfort since the days of the Fall. Now, I hope that as we move forward, our peoples will be in harmony with one another."

A small round of applause commence and she smiled again.

"Now, please. Enjoy yourselves this evening. I hope to speak with each of you tonight."

And so she entered the fray and guests milled about the parlor, the air filling with jovial conversation. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Dunban, with his hair slicked back into a ponytail, dressed in a black suit. Even at the mere sight of his handsome physique she felt herself falter. But he did not move towards her, and instead engaged Shalen in conversation. Slightly miffed, the Empress turned to Otharon and began a pleasant dialogue about the future of Colony 6 and Alcamoth relations.

The evening wore on and as Melia made her rounds, she continued to expect — or to hope — Dunban would intervene and capture her attention, but he did nothing of the sort. Instead, the man maintained a distance from her person, engaging as many other guests as possible, though she did notice him keep conversations short with both Bella and Vanea. To this she smirked inwardly; it seemed he was being cautious. Not that she would have cared; Melia knew where his heart lay.

Finally, the party came to a close, guests passing on their good-byes and exiting her chambers, heading back to their own quarters to rest for the remainder of the night. As the second to last guest departed, Melia turned to find Dunban leaning against the back of the sofa, hands tucked into his pockets.

Gods he was so effortlessly good-looking.

A small smile crawled onto his lips.

Her knees weakened. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Dunban."

"Melia." He rose and came over to her, stopping just a foot away.

She wanted to close the distance between them but did not, heart torn in either direction.

"Did you wish to speak with me?"

"I just wanted to say that you look beautiful."

"Thank you." She tilted her head to the side, feigning calm. "Was that it?"

He hesitated; she could see the anxiety in his beautiful brown eyes. "Yes. I'm sure you are tired and wish to sleep."

As if she could.

"No, not at all. We haven't had a chance to speak this evening. Shall we take a turn in the garden?"

"I would like that."

They walked out of her chambers and through the Villa hallways in silence. The woman stole a glance in his direction: his face was impassive. A wall of stone through which she could not glean his emotions. How could he be so calm? Surely he felt as she did, walking on pins and needles.

The night air hit her skin and she shivered as they stepped outside the Villa. The sky was dark, clouds covering the stars and any other natural light from the heavens. The only light that kept them from plummeting into darkness came from the blue lamps scattered across the courtyard.

As they made their way to the garden maze, Melia stopped in her tracks. She eyed the entryway and the blackness that exuded from it. There were no lamps in the maze. It would be completely black if they walked in its windy corridors.

A spike of fear jolted her.

"Let's...stop here."

Dunban glanced around, but did not object. This position didn't afford much privacy, being out in the open, but at the same time, the Empress was certain no one would bother them. The hour was well past midnight and everyone had gone to sleep. Even if a few persons were awake, they would not venture out into the cold of the deep night.

Heart pounding, she began, "I...I wanted to talk with you about the other night."

"I thought you might."

"I read what you gave me. The letters."

He nodded.

"They were quite...insightful."

"Insightful? Anything else?"

"They were...it was a beautiful gesture, Dunban. I...I do not know how to convey what I feel about how you addressed your journal to myself. Words cannot express the emotions."

"Good ones I hope?"

He sounded tentative, unsure.

"Yes, good ones. And I am happy you decided to share the physical copies with me." She gave him a soft smile though her body remained tense.

"I wanted to share with you everything I experienced on the road."

"It was a brave thing to do. Sharing your deepest thoughts with me."

"Maybe so. I just knew it was necessary."

Their eyes met and they fell into silence once more. Her pulse quickened as they stared at one another. How would she begin? Her fingers trembled and she gripped the side of her dress. There was no avoiding it any longer, she would have to broach the intended subject now head on.

"Dunban, I have thought much about what you said and wrote. I know you want an answer, but I don't think I can give you the one you desire." She watched the corners of his eyes turn downward, and her heart curled in on itself. "Do not misunderstand. It's not that I don't feel...intensely for you. I...I do."

"Then what is it?"

Her throat constricted. "There are a great many things."

"Tell me." Dunban stopped then said hastily, "I apologize. Only if you want to."

The young woman swallowed and cast her eyes away from him. "You say that you are not perfect. Neither am I."

"You are perfect to me."

She squeezed her eyes shut and gripped her dress harder.

"I think you shall regret saying such a thing."

"Why?"

"You wrote how much you enjoyed spending time with the Nopon children." She took a breath. "I know you wrote that you wanted to be a father. And I don't believe I can give you that. I do not know if I can have children."

Silence greeted her. Blood roared in her ears as she opened her eyes and turned her gaze back to him.

"Even if you can't, that doesn't change my feelings for you."

"Are you sure?"

"I want you, Melia. Everything that you are."

"You say that now."

"Why are you saying these things?"

"Are you certain you wouldn't rather have a normal relationship with Bella? Or Vanea?"

"What do you mean by normal?"

"There are things wrong with me, Dunban. It's not just a question of my fertility. I have these cycles. Phases. Episodes. There are weeks when I cannot sleep through the night without dreams filled with screams and shrieks. I awaken and feel my skin tearing at the seams. My body is overtaken with cramping during the days and I feel as though I were to break in half at any moment. My senses overload and I can smell everything and everyone. I can hear each heartbeat and each footfall day and night I can smell even the tiniest of odors and taste them in the air."

She gripped her right sleeve and wrenched it upward on her arm. The scar glowed a light green under her pale skin.

"My scars glow bright green during those nights. They glow when I use ether. They burn when I remember what happened to me, becoming a Telethia. Sometimes the memories flood back without warning and I cannot shut down the pain. All I can do is scream. Sometimes I feel as though I am going mad. Are you certain you wish to commit yourself to me now? Now that you know what poison exists inside me?"

"Melia, I had no idea—"

"No one does."

Her eyes were misty; her cheeks warm.

"Melia, let's go inside and we ca—"

The man reached out and she took a step back.

"You do not understand. I know not what I am any longer."

"If you're saying these things to scare me, it won't work. I'm not running away."

"How do I know that's true?"

"Because I want to be with you."

"Even after everything I told you?"

"Yes."

"You may come to find my body disgusting."

"Never, Melia."

"You could tire of my complications."

"I would never tire of you."

"That's what you believe now, but when you are directly impacted? Will your feelings change? Will you come to resent me? How do I know you won't disappear? I would put all of my trust and faith into you and you could still leave."

"I won't."

"You did it once! You could do it again!"

"No, I could not. I realized that when I came across that flower. I will always come to your side should you wish it. But if you want me gone, I will go."

He stepped towards her and stopped inches away from her.

"I believe we are meant for each other, Melia. I love you."

"I...I love you, too."

"Meli—"

"But I cannot, Dunban. I cannot." She stepped backwards, shaking her head. "I'm sorry."

And she turned and ran into the Villa, sobs ripping the breath from her lungs with each step she took.

A/N: Alright everyone! One last chapter, home stretch! It's going to be wonderful. Please leave some love; it makes me happy when I hear about how much you guys enjoy the story. :)