"You've made your decision, then?" Joshua asked. Jill had found him on a secluded spot on the rear deck, watching the clouds over the horizon. He hadn't spoken with her since the previous day, wanting to give her time to process the news she had been given.

"I have," Jill answered. "I'm going to keep the baby, and help make this world a better place for them to live in, for everyone."

"I thought you'd say that," Joshua felt his lips curling into the biggest smile he had had since returning from Origin, perhaps even long before that. He had far too seldom heard good news in the last eighteen years. "For my part, I shall do my best to follow Byron's example in being a good uncle."

"I'm sure you will," Jill chuckled softly.

"In the meantime, I shall be here for whatever you need, just as I'm sure Clive would have been." He would only admit it to himself, but there was a weight off his shoulders. Though he had a fairly good idea of the decision Jill would make, and would never say anything to sway it, a part of him had ached at the thought that he might not have the chance to see Clive's child, not to have this piece of him to hold on to. Perhaps that was selfish of him, but he supposed it didn't much matter anymore.

"Just, let's keep this between us for a while longer." Jill interrupted his thoughts. "I'm still not quite ready for everyone in the Hideaway to know."

"Know what?" A voice called out. Gav appeared from around the corner.

"It's a private matter."

"Aw, come on. The two of you have been actin' all secretive for days now."

"Oh, no," Jill shook her head good-naturedly. "Forgive me for saying so, but you have the biggest mouth in the Hideaway when it comes to matters like this. Before I knew it, you'd have told half the people here."

"I won't," he promised, holding up his right hand. "Scout's honor."

"Alright," she finally resigned herself. "It turns out, I'm… With child."

"Really?" Gav's good eye popped open, and his lips turned up in a grin. "Why, Clive, you old dog. You mean we're going to have another little Outlaw running around?"

"That's right," Jill chuckled, putting one hand to her stomach.

"That has to be the greatest news I've heard in months!" The cheerful chap suddenly swallowed her in a hug, taking hold of her shoulders as he pulled away. "But you do realize it'll be hard to keep people from finding out after a while."

"I know," Jill agreed. "I just want a little more time to get used to the idea myself before I'm swarmed by well-wishers. Alright?"

"Fair enough. Just be sure to let me know if you ever need anything, alright?"

"Thank you, Gav."

The following months went by more quickly than Joshua expected. Under guidelines provided by Tarja, Jill started participating in the restoration efforts throughout Storm when she wasn't preparing for the baby's arrival. Joshua hadn't seen Jill happier in a long time. He was glad that she had found something to give her such fulfillment. In the meantime, he had his own projects to attend to.

Despite his own misgivings, Jote and Uncle Byron, among others, had managed to convince him to restore Rosalith and reclaim his place on the throne. After all, Rosaria had need of leadership now that the dust of war had settled, and Joshua was still next in line, at least according to tradition. When he wasn't assisting Jill, he was buried in plans and reports.

The rebuilding of the castle town, as well as the palace itself, were proceeding apace. At the current rate, it should be habitable shortly after Jill's child was expected to be born. He had every intention of inviting them both to move in when he did, so that he might be close to them and provide them with the full protection of House Rosfield. As confident as he was in the abilities of the Cursebreakers, Joshua was more familiar with the members of the Guardians of the Flame, who would soon transition into roles within the new ducal guard, Sir Wade as their Lord Commander.

"Hey, Joshua." The voice seemed distant, and didn't register in Joshua's mind at first.

"Your Lordship?" The voice tried again. "Your Highness?"

"Joshua!"

This finally grabbed Joshua's attention, the parchment in his hand nearly flying from his grasp as he jumped. "Oh, Gav. I'm sorry, I was absorbed in correspondence."

"I can see that," Gav nodded.

"Did you need something?"

"I've come to recruit your help on a mission." Gav explained.

"A mission?" Joshua wondered. "Gav, I'm hardly a Cursebreaker, and I can't stray far from the Hideaway in case Jill needs me."

"But this is for Jill," Gav insisted. "Remember the gift I made for Edda when Jessef was on the way?"

"The good luck charm? Of course."

"Well, I'm making one for Jill's baby now. Run into the same problem as last time, though."

"The silver chocobo feather," Joshua surmised.

"Exactly," Gav nodded. "And yer just the man to come with me to find it."

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not exactly available at the moment."

"And your schedule's like to lighten up in the comin' weeks?" Gav said pointedly. "Come on, don't you want your niece or nephew to know their uncle had a part in a gift like this? It won't take long; already got a lead this time."

Joshua hesitated, staring at the stack of letters he had yet to open. Then again, it wouldn't be the end of the world to put them off just a bit longer, would it? The charm would mean a lot to Jill.

"Alright," he finally conceded. "But I'm going to ask Tarja to send me a stolas should anything come up with Jill. Should that happen, we come straight back, feather or no feather. Understood?"

"As you wish, Your Grace," Gav teased. "I'll be at the pier when you're ready."

Before long, the two were making their way through Norvent Valley, in former imperial territory. Rumors placed a silver chocobo somewhere in the area. Gav suspected the same chocobos Clive had tracked previously had come east after fleeing their roost in Rosaria. With any luck, this endeavor would be as simple as the last, finding a feather left behind by one of them.

"Perhaps we should look for a cave, or another abandoned barn," Joshua suggested.

"My thoughts exactly," Gav nodded. "As it happens, I know of a couple of possibilities."

As Gav led the way, the only trouble they experienced was a handful of leftover Akashic animals. Sadly, they, along with others throughout the Twins, hadn't disappeared with Ultima.

"We can only hope the chocobos didn't turn before the floods dissipated," Joshua noted.

"Aye," Gav agreed. "Be a shame to have to put them down, 'specially considerin' they might be the last of their kind. Much like your brother's bird. How is ol' Whiteheart, anyway?"

"As well as can be expected. She'll eat the gyshal greens I bring her, but won't let me get close enough to do much else."

"The stablehands can take care of that, ye know."

"And let them risk getting struck by her beak?" Joshua countered. "Hardly. I'm the only one who's seen Clive interact with her enough to know how to tend her safely."

"I see." Gav gave a curt nod, not exactly looking at Joshua as they spoke.

"I often wonder if, now that her master is gone, she wouldn't prefer to be free in the wild again. Perhaps Clive would want it that way, as well."

"I'm pickin' up on a theme here."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothin'," Gav answered nonchalantly.

"Then let's just focus on finding this feather so we can get back," Joshua huffed.

"What's the rush? Not enjoying the hunt?"

"We've discussed this. We can't be gone long in case Jill needs me."

"The whole Hideaway is looking out for Jill."

"It's not the same. I need to be there for her since Clive can't be."

"Why?" Gav asked.

"Do you really need to ask that?" Joshua demanded, stopping in his tracks to turn on his companion.

"Maybe I do," Gav snapped back, crossing his arms. "Maybe I'm just wonderin' why you feel you have to take on everythin' you feel would've been your brother's responsibility."

"You really aren't going to let this go, are you?"

"No. I'm askin' why."

"Because I'm the brother who survived," Joshua practically shouted. "Even though I did everything in my power to ensure that Clive would be the one to return home, to be by Jill's side. He's the one who should be anticipating the joy of holding his own child in his arms. But he's not. And I'm here. It's not enough. It hasn't been since…"

"Since when?" Gav asked.

Joshua hesitated, unsure if he were willing to share what came next. Yet, he had already let so much out, and perhaps Gav, as well as others who had spent so much time with his brother, had a right to know.

"I haven't shared this with anyone." he began. "I told everyone that I knew Clive had died the same way Jill knew: I had felt it in my spirit, but I couldn't find his body. That wasn't entirely true. The night Origin fell, I woke up on some of the debris, bobbing in the waters of Dzemekys. My wounds were completely healed, so I knew Clive had used the power of the Phoenix I had given him, but I couldn't see him anywhere.

"I finally managed to make it to shore, and I saw him." He felt his limbs begin to shake, so he balled his hands into fists in an attempt to steady them. "His body had fully succumbed to the Curse, head to foot. I tried to reach him, but before I could, the waves had swept over him and carried him out to sea." He lowered himself to the ground before his tremors caused him to collapse.

"Joshua…" Gav frowned, kneeling beside Joshua.

"He gave everything to save this world- to save me," Joshua went on, barely containing his sobs. "In return, he died one of the most painful, least dignified deaths imaginable. He had nothing to ease his suffering, and I couldn't even be there to comfort him through it. After everything he did, I couldn't even give him a proper burial. So if I can be where he would wish he could be, I think I owe him that much."

"I don't think Clive would think you owed him anythin'." Gav declared. "He knew that, try as he might, there was a chance he weren't comin' back from where he was going. As long as I knew him, he did what he did for the world, for those he loved, so that they could live free. It's a hard image to measure up to, believe you me. But he wouldn't want you all broken up for his sake."

"I-"

"Would you want Clive to be where you are now? All that time you went it alone searchin' for ways to fight Ultima, did you expect aught in return for any of your struggles?"

"Of course not."

"I'm sure he'd do it all over again if he could. Wouldn't you, in his place?"

"In a heartbeat." Joshua said without hesitation.

"And you wouldn't want him to live with any regret or guilt, would ya?

"Weren't a day that went by that I didn't see him sneaking a glance at that feather you left behind in Drake's Head. Knowing you were out there fighting in your own way helped him carry on, but not out of guilt or revenge, but out of hope. He'd want the same for you, even now that he's gone." Gav put a hand on Joshua's shoulder. "You're allowed that. You can do what you're doing, but out of love, not some sense of obligation or guilt."

Joshua allowed himself to shift into a proper sitting position as he pondered this. Finally, he looked Gav straight in the eye. "Thank you, Gav."

"I may not be what anyone would call wise, but I know some things."

Joshua let out a soft chuckle. "That you do."

Gav gave him a pat on the shoulder, and stood with a grunt. "Shall we get back at it, then?"

But as he stood, the pouch tied to his belt came loose, spilling its contents as it fell to the ground. A small glint caught Joshua's eye, and he picked up the bag.

"A silver chocobo feather." He didn't understand. "If you had one the whole time, then why did you bring me all the way out here?"

"You caught me," Gav admitted. "Look, all this time, I've been watching you go hither and tither, lookin' after everyone and everythin', but I didn't see anyone looking out for you, 'specially since you sent that attendant of yours to help settle things in Rosaria. You would bury yourself in your writin' and your letters, but I hadn't seen you talk to a single soul about what was really goin' on in that head of yours.

"Figured you could use a chat," he went on. "But, seein' as you don't much know me from a Bloodaxe, I thought you wouldn't open up if I asked you outright. Set up this little trip as a push to let your guard down. And it worked, dinnit it? Feel good to let a load off?"

"I do," Joshua confessed. Having finally let someone know the truth of that night, he did feel lighter. "This meant a lot, Gav."

"It's what brothers do."

"Brothers…"

"Have you forgotten? Yer one of us now. A part of the family, even if some don't admit or act like it sometimes. I'm just the one who sticks his nose where it don't always belong."

At that moment, two silver chocobos ran across the path from in front of them, two small silver chicks not far behind. The men barely had time to notice them before they disappeared into the brush.

"Reckon it's time we head back?"

"Let's."

And the two turned to do just that.

*AN: This chapter is a little longer, since I don't plan on going into as much detail with Joshua or Gav's POV going forward. I might take a little break, since I've pretty much been writing non-stop since I finished the game, but I'll be back soon. Anyone who's read my stories before should know to anticipate a lot of fluff after this amount of heavy exchange. Until then, thank you so much for reading, following, and reviewing!*