A/N: This is my first Final Fantasy IX fanfiction!
I started this fic well before I joined , so if there's any similarities to other fics, that's purely coincidental.

The story takes place a few years after Zidanes return. Divided from her lover by duties and life in general, Dagger struggles to make sense of her existence.

I hope you enjoy, and please comment/review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX, but the words are all mine!

A place to call home

Prologue

Garnet had taken the habit of sitting in her chair by the window. She sat there, day after day, eyes scanning the horizon. She was searching for a sign of a rider, or an airship. Every time she saw something, someone, her heart made a leap in her chest. Maybe this time …

She pretended to be sleeping when someone, be it Beatrix or some servant or other, came in to disturb her from her never-ending watch. To sate her solitude, she had taken to singing, rather than seeking the company of others, reminiscing all the while.

***

The sister moons shone brightly, with only a thin veil of clouds covering them. Their reflection in the lake was still and perfect. There where no complaining about lack of light tonight, when one had four moons to light the path.

Zidane watched her as she leaned against the window-sill, observing the little figure scurrying away in the night. The room was dark, save the light that shone through the window, illuminating her beautiful face. At the moment a frown marred the perfect picture. She turned, looking at him in worry.

"Zidane, Vivi just walked out."

She fidgeted with her sleeves in distress, looking more troubled than he found reasonable. Still, there was something adorable about her oversensitivity.

"Maybe he's letting us have a little romantic quiet time," he had teased, knowing full well how angry it would make her.

"I'm serious!"

"…I wouldn't worry too much."

He sighed, turning his back to her, feigning complete calm. He had no wish to start a quarrel with her. Not now. Not over Vivi.

"But …"

"He's trying to figure something out for himself. Think about it … Vivi has never meet black mages like himself before."

"But what if their being mean to him, or saying nasty things?"

"Do you really think the people of this village gathered to do something like that?"

Annoyance at her extreme over protectiveness made him a little impatient. She could be so naïve, but when she truly cared for someone, there was no end to her suspicion and distress. He was even a little jealous at Vivi, for receiving such tenderness without even knowing it.

"Maybe …" he sighed. "Just maybe he'll find what he's looking for."

"… find what?"

"A place to call home."

"... Home?"

"Yeah… A place where he belong ..."

***

When Zidane had returned to her that glorious day, as if waking from the dead, she had been certain she would never shed another tear. His brilliant smile and kind eyes where just as she remembered them. She had thrown herself into his embrace, savouring the feel of his arms around her, thinking she would never be alone again.

Garnet sighed, resting her head on the back of her chair. He had left again, without so much as a word. That was as it used to be. He came at infrequent intervals. Every time was as the first. He held her close, whispering soothing words of comfort. And then, like the first time, he would be gone, all too soon.

Every time he left, he asked her the same question.

"Wanna come with? You have no idea of what you're missing!"

He spoke as if it was a joke, but she new he meant it. The frustration and anger in his eyes every time declined made that obvious. He was angry that she had chosen Alexandria over him. If he only knew what it cost her. She paid her prize every day, pining away in that chair by the window.

There was no such ting as a happy ending, Garnet reflected. Or, at the very least, there would always come something after it. A final ending could only mean death, and where was the happiness in that? Still, we've all been assigned our lot in life. Some can be avoided, or simply ignored. But then there are those that is so much a part of ones life, that they defines one very character. There is another word for those kinds of duties. It's called fate.

This was hers, she held firm to that.