Wow, I'm finally updating this story. I have no excuses. I purposely stayed away from this story, because I wasn't sure where to go with it. I'm sorry for that. I dunno if my fans have strayed, but here I am. I'm back on track.

A/N: I do not own ToS, nor its characters.

Chapter 10- A Breakable Vow

Genis stared dumbly at Lloyd, his eyes never blinking. His breath was silent, inaudible, but his eyes seemed to scream out, which made Lloyd scoot in his chair uncomfortably. It took a series of confused expressions before Genis replied to Lloyd's confession.

"Lloyd…you've kept this to yourself this whole time…?

Lloyd nodded slowly, robotically. He didn't want anyone else to worry about Dirk…or even himself… He just couldn't keep the secret any longer, and it did feel good to pour out his troubles to his best friend. He knew Genis could be counted on, and he knew that he wouldn't have to worry about Genis becoming overly worrisome. Genis would just be there for him when he needed or asked for it.

"Wow…I would never have suspected such a thing…" said Genis with a small frown.

"I know. I always just thought Dirk would be alive forever…I just…I never even thought of a scenario like this," said Lloyd sadly.

Genis was thoughtful for a moment before commenting:

"It was pretty generous of Kratos to watch over Dirk for you though. You're lucky to have him in your life now."

Lloyd smiled warmly and lowered his eyes, his lashes fluttering softly.

"I am pretty lucky to have him…I really am…"

Genis sadly sighed, and Lloyd looked curiously toward him.

"What's up, Genis?"

"Well, I've just never had a parent figure…I mean, except for Raine and all. I've always wondered what it's like to have a person love you like that…I know Raine is motherly, but I just know a real mom is different."

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah…a mother…I wonder what my mom was like…Kratos really hasn't spoken much about her, except in Flanoir. And even then, he didn't say much. And I wonder…I mean, Kratos is a harsh know-it-all. How in the world did he snag a girl? And a pretty one at that… See her? In my locket?"

Lloyd took out the locket from his chest pocket and opened it to show Genis. Genis looked at the picture with great interest, his eyes bulging at the sight of a toddler Lloyd and his parents. They looked like a great family, a family of great potential to Genis. He smiled sadly and looked back at Lloyd with a gleam in his eyes.

"I think you would have been so much happier if the Desians hadn't ruined your chances of a normal family. I'm so sorry, Lloyd…"

Lloyd frowned as he concentrated on a rough part of his right knuckle. He thought out loud.

"I guess you could say that…but if it hadn't happened, I wouldn't have known Dirk probably…or you, Raine, and Colette. And then we wouldn't have gone on the journey together to meet Sheena, Zelos, Presea, and Regal…so, I dunno. Sure, I wish I knew my mom, but at the same time, I couldn't give up meeting you guys…"

Lloyd trailed off and stared blankly into Genis' wide, surprised eyes.

"I never thought of it like that, Lloyd…what a horrible compromise though…your mother or your friends…"

Lloyd shrugged and pat Genis gently on the back with a grin plastered to his face.

"Genis, I wouldn't trade you for the world! You're way too important to me. Besides, I don't want you thinking of this anyway. This is my burden to bear, not yours."

"Ok, Lloyd," said Genis calmly.

Lloyd frowned but yawned quickly before Genis could catch it. Genis looked out the window and tried to decipher whether the sky belonged to night or day. His pale eyes scanned the trimmed hedges of Zelos' back yard. Little, pink flowers blossomed from those hedges, springing eloquently from its stem. For some reason, those blossoms comforted Genis. Whether it was their simple beauty or their sweet, heavenly scent, Genis felt tranquility.

"Genis?"

"Yes, Lloyd?"

"You're my best friend."

o.O.o

Zelos inserted a stack of cut pancakes into his delicate mouth. The syrupy taste slid down his throat with much ease, and the stickiness on his lips was licked clean with one swipe of his tongue. He sat alone, for it was still early in the morning. Sebastian worked busily on washing the unclean dishes from the night before, his eyes glued to his skillful hands. Zelos pushed his plate away in satisfaction, afterwards wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.

He excused himself from the table and proceeded to walk in the garden, where he found Colette quietly staring at the blossoming flowers surrounding her. Zelos could hardly breathe. What should he say to her? He hadn't really seen her since…their evening in the rain. He stared at her gorgeous hair, simply straight and natural, swaying gently back and forth as her body kept a rhythm. He could hear her humming softly, almost inaudibly. Her legs were locked, and her head was bent low, into the heart of the blooms. Zelos detected her scent, a faint whisper of vanilla, one of Colette's favorite shampoo selections. How ethereal she seemed to him. Zelos could still see the shape of wings protruding from her body, beautifully surrounding her small, vulnerable frame. She was the perfect angel, in both body and spirit. Her pale eyes shined so vibrantly; her pale skin glowed eerily in any light; her perfect facial features were so refined, yet untamed…she was a goddess. Zelos could understand why Lloyd was so infatuated with her. She was beautiful and kind, generous and forgiving, loyal and determined. But why did Zelos still feel that she was not the one for him? In his heart, he felt himself unworthy of her. He almost felt like a complete and utter jackass whenever he felt her presence. Even more so, now…

"Zelos?"

Zelos started, realizing he must have been staring like an idiot the whole time.

"Hey…Colette…the flowers smell nice, huh?"

'Zelos…you idiot,' he thought to himself.

But Colette smiled and nodded, her bangs bobbing cutely. And although Zelos was happy to see her smiling, he couldn't help but notice the shine that was once there was absent from her face. What had he done?

"Are you feeling alright, Colette?" he asked worriedly.

"Of course. It's a beautiful day today," she said almost rehearsed.

"Oh…"

To Colette's and Zelos' amazement, Zelos was found on the ground, stunned and nearly unconscious. Colette looked toward the house to find Sheena, a card in her hand and a smirk on her feminine face.

"Oh no, Sheena! He wasn't doing anything!" cried Colette.

"What…" croaked a dazed Zelos.

Sheena blushed and rushed to Zelos' side. "Well I thought he might have been harassing you again, so I just…you know…"

"What the hell, Sheena?! Harassing?! Why would I do that?"

Sheena and Colette were silent as Zelos slowly sat up, his eyes still looking bewildered. He looked at both the girls (as best he could) and studied their shamed expressions.

'Why would Sheena think that I'm…harassing…'

Zelos reddened and looked at Colette, humiliation creeping from his skin. "Colette…you told her about…"

Colette stiffened, looked quickly at a dumbfounded Sheena, and ran back into the house. Zelos tried standing as well, but he tumbled back to the ground, his balance not yet recovered. Sheena decided to find the ground interesting, as she didn't want to look into Zelos' angry, flaming eyes.

"What the hell business is it of yours what Colette and I did?!" he asked in a ferocious voice.

"What you and Colette did?! More like what you did TO Colette!"

"TO her?! What does that mean?!"

Sheena puffed out her chest as she began to chastise the Tethe'allen Chosen. Jealousy and anger surged from her very soul.

"How dare you make a move on such an innocent girl! Especially Colette! What on earth were you thinking, you pig!? And you know she and Lloyd are in love with each other! Why would you ruin that for them?! You can have any whore in all of Tethe'alla, and you have to use Colette like a damn toy to satisfy your stupid needs! Zelos! What is wrong with you!?"

Instead of retorting back, Zelos' head sunk. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he looked back up to Sheena in the eyes. Sheena flinched, shocked at his vulnerable state. She was looking forward to having a verbal fight with him, because this state he was in now was almost unbearable to look at.

"I know…I feel like a monster," Zelos said softly. "She won't even look at me normally…"

Sheena could hardly believe Zelos' remorse. AND it was sincere. Sheena quickly changed her demeanor. She bent down to Zelos and looked curiously into his eyes. "Zelos…you mean…you weren't just using her?" she asked.

"Oh…I don't know. I mean, I love Colette. She's a great person, and I love being around her…so it wasn't just…physical," he stated stiffly.

Sheena heaved a sigh, "She doesn't think you're a monster, Zelos. She's ashamed of the experience, because she didn't want to lead you on, and…and she loves Lloyd anyway…" The last 5 words were hard to say out in the open, but Sheena did it nonetheless. Zelos didn't catch her breathlessness; he merely raised an eyebrow in thoughtful contemplation.

"I know she loves my bud, but…I dunno. Something draws me to her…"

Sheena eyed him agonizingly. Zelos laughed curtly and added, "It's true; I was also horny."

Sheena rolled her brown eyes and shook her head. "I just don't get how you can sleep with any and everyone."

Zelos laughed again, this time with more warmth and liveliness, even at the somewhat irrelevant subject she brought up. "It's just a way for guys to release all stress, you know. And you don't have to be in love to have sex, Sheena. It's just fun and…addicting."

"But how can you be intimate with someone you barely know? How can you do something so private with a stranger? Or even with a casual friend?"

Zelos looked thoughtfully at the ground before answering. His pale, blue eyes tiredly grazed through the grass as he thought of a suitable answer. "I suppose," he began slowly, "that you just don't look at sex like that. Sex is something animals do so impersonally, so why can't we do the same? It feels good, it helps through stress, and if you find a willing party, no strings have to be attached. But, Sheena…"

Sheena was listening carefully to his words, but when she heard her name, she started and looked oddly into the Chosen's face. Zelos smiled weakly and continued.

"Sheena…when you…finally commiserate your love…make sure it's real, ok? I would do anything to take back all my superficial, one night stands to give my all to one girl I love. But when I do find my love, I'll already be tainted. Nobody worth while will want my used body and soul, Sheena…I've sold myself many times…and there's hardly anything I can do to make restitution for that…"

Sheena's tiny mouth hung open in shock. Never had she heard Zelos chastise himself for his sex life. And now, here he was, remorseful for giving in to nature's temptation. He had partaken of the fruit…and many times…

"Zelos, I…I never knew you felt this way," stammered Sheena, embarrassed.

"Well I guess I've kept this sort of thing to myself. I just act like a jackass to be cool for the guys. Everyone thinks my life is so great, and it's hell…sex just helps me to forget for a little while. Nothing more."

Zelos' eyes held nothing but shame and disparity. Sheena could hardly bear to look at him. She sat down beside him and spoke low, her voice velvety deep.

"Well, thanks for the advice, Zelos, but I don't think I'm going to marry anyone…"

Zelos looked up, shocked and a little amused.

"You don't need to be married to have sex, Sheena hunny…being in love is just fine…"

"Not to me, Zelos. I think marriage is the safest way. I figure, if someone really, really wants me, waiting until marriage will be a piece of cake."

Zelos chuckled and shook his head slightly, his red hair gently bouncing in rhythm.

"If that makes you feel safe, Sheena, then I'd never stray from that notion…" He thought upon the matter more. "In fact, I'd say that's a wonderful goal, Sheena. Although with your body…it'll be mighty hard…you're so voluptuous," he drawled with his mouth purposely open. Sheena gave him a little shove, but she had a smile on her face. She blushed a light pink when Zelos ran his fingers through her dark hair. He smiled at her as well, and they both seemed to have a better understanding of one another.

o.O.o

"Well…he seems to be looking better, but maybe I just came on a good day," said the doctor sheepishly. Kratos growled in anger.

"No need to be optimistic, Doctor…"

The doctor shrugged after taking the thermometer out of Dirk's mouth. He packed up his bag and stood face to face with Kratos, their eyes warily meeting each other's.

"The poisoning seems to be fading, but we can't be sure. Unfortunately, this kind of sickness doesn't have stages. It does whatever it pleases, whenever it pleases. Keep me posted whenever you're in town, Mr. Aurion."

The doctor bowed, knowing this man to be a sage, an angel of great power. He left quickly, not wanting to overstay his even necessary visit. Kratos looked after him, his eyes angrily following the old man's wobbly walk out of Dirk's compound. He returned to Dirk, who sat erect in bed, his eyes warily focused on the pattern sewn delicately into his quilt. Colette had made the quilt for him, and it was decorated with flowers and trees of many kinds and colors. Kratos studied the patient for a while before clearing his throat to gain his attention.

"Ahem…Dirk?"

"Yes, Kratos?"

"Good news today it seems."

"Oh, yeah…"

Kratos sighed. Dirk hadn't been one for conversation these days. He sat either staring at Colette's quilt or out the window, no doubt looking for Lloyd's return. Kratos also missed Lloyd, but he supposed this hurt Dirk more. After all, he had raised Lloyd since he was a toddler…

"Well…I suppose you need your rest…I'll check on your later, Dirk."

Kratos left the room, leaving the door wide open, just in case the dwarf needed assistance.

Well, this was a pretty dry chapter, but oh well. I had to start off somewhere. How did you guys like it? Do you even remember? lol PLEASE REVIEW!!!