All the coaxing and pleading in the world couldn't have gotten me to leave Zidane's bedside that night. Falling asleep in the chair beside the bed, however, left me helpless when Steiner came in and carried me to my own bedroom just before dawn. I woke up feeling no different than I had for weeks – empty, soulless, alone.

It hit me all at once after lying there a moment. Zidane was back. I ripped the covers off me and darted to the door, throwing them open and flying down the hall. Seconds later, I flung open the second set of doors, these being to Zidane's room – and found it empty. Stunned and confused, I stood a moment, wondering if it had all been anything more than a dream. A wonderful, beautiful dream that would haunt me forever.

I hesitated there in the open doorway until a noise from upstairs startles me out of my reverie. Laughter coming from the kitchen. And above all the other voices, Zidane's rang out loud and true. I turned and sprinted back down the hallway, down the spiraling staircase, my feet pounding against the marble floor. I nearly slipped half a dozen times on its smooth surface, but eventually flew through the doorway into the kitchen. The wonderful smells of breakfast cooking hit me all at once, only enhancing the already perfect moment when Zidane's face turned to me.

He smiled, his aquamarine eyes glittering. He was still in poor shape, bruised and swollen, one lip split, but it didn't stop him from running to me, pulling me into his arms. We held each other for a long moment, so oblivious to anything else that when we finally pulled away, we realized that Quina and the other chefs had left us in private. We both chuckled a little as we glimpsed around the now empty kitchen, and then Zidane took both my hands in his.

"I…" He laugheds again, shaking his head. "I don't know what to say. Feels like I've been fighting to come back to you forever. Now that I'm here… What happens next, Dagger?"

I smiled at him, touched his face with my open hand. He leaned into it, closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh.

"I don't know, Zidane. I only know that, whatever I do and wherever I go, I want you with me." I bow my head. "And if that means no longer being queen of Alexandria, then so be it."

He didn't answer and I'm almost afraid to meet his eyes.

"Garnet…"

"Dagger," I insisted. "I've thought a lot about this." I look up again and his expression is unreadable. "I've lost you twice now. I won't lose you again. Nothing else matters."

"That's not true, Garnet… Dagger. Before when I asked you to… to marry me… I wasn't thinking. At least, not about anybody but myself. This is your calling. Nobody else can do it."

I shook my head. "I haven't told anybody else yet, but… I've asked Uncle Artania to stand in as regent for me. He has accepted."

"What? When did you… For how long?"

"As long as I deem necessary. I can oversee things from abroad, return to Alexandria for important conferences. I don't have to relinquish my crown, and my… children will still be the heirs to the throne."

Zidane's smile returned. "Are you sure about this?"

"I've never been so certain of anything."

His eyes lit up and he took my hand again. "You mean, we could hop on an airship today and just… go?"

I nodded timidly. "If it's alright with you, I thought maybe we could revisit your suggestion of forming a two-person band of thieves. I believe you suggested calling it, The Betrothed."

"It's like Baku told me once. There's not much treasure left lying around this world… But I wouldn't mind spending my life looking for it, if it means getting to be with you."

I looked down, suddenly feeling bashful. "That's what I was hoping you'd say."

Zidane's hands came down gently on my shoulders and I lifted my face. When I met his eyes, he was looking at me with an expression that was both timid and intense – a look that told me all I needed to know. "You know, all my life I searched for a place to really call home. It wasn't until I met you that I realized, home isn't a place – it's a feeling."

"Zidane… I love you. Don't you ever leave me again."

He smiled and leaned his forehead against mine, then wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "I'll do my best."

All at once something dawned on me. "Zidane? What about the… the life extension? Did it work?"

He pulled away and his eyes growing distant for just a moment. "There's only one way to find out," he said at length. Then he smiled, a real and true smile. "But I think so. I can remember feeling… tired before the procedure. I don't feel that way now. The question is, are you willing to take the gamble on me? As far as anyone knows, I might just stop dead any minute."

"Zidane, stop. I can't bear the thought of it. The answer is, yes. I'll do whatever it takes to be with you, even if it means… losing you someday. I won't waste another second on regrets or hesitations. I want to live. With you."

"That settles it, then." He closed in on me again and brushed my cheek with the back of his hand. "So, where do you wanna go first?"

I chuckle, despite all the uncertainty. "I don't know," I admitted. "I hadn't really thought of a specific destination."

"Really?" He got a devilish look in his eyes all of a sudden and I could see his tail swatting back and forth in the air. "Then you won't mind if I choose our first stop?"

I shook my head, knowing full well where he was going with this. "Not at all."

Before I could blink he scooped me off my feet. I was shocked by his strength, despite his injuries, but he didn't so much as wince as he darted out of the room and back up the stairs with me. I clutched his neck tightly as we flew down the hall and through the double doors to my bedroom where he playfully tossed me down. I sat up in time to see him locking the doors behind us. Then he turned around and pounced up onto the bed beside me, pressing his lips tightly against mine.

It had been so long since I'd even allowed myself to dream about Zidane's touch, that there was a sort of newness to it. Certainly it was more intense than ever before. I kissed him back, burying my fingers in his hair as he tugged at the corseting at my back. His mouth moved over my jaw, down my neck to my chest as he slipped my blouse over my shoulders.

"I don't know how I would've lived without you," he whispered, sending a shiver through me. Then he let out a little moan and clutched at his side.

"What is it?"

"Just a bruise," he assured me.

Carefully, I pulled his shirt over his head and gasped when I saw the thing. The bruise went from his hip to his armpit, wrapping around his chest. "Is this where you fell?" I asked, touching it gingerly with just the tips of my fingers.

He nods. "Guess so. Must've passed out before I hit the ground."

"You should get some rest. This is a bad idea."

"No, no, no, no, no. This is a very good idea," he argued, kissing my neck again.

"Fine," I said, pushing him away. He looked like he could burst into tears, but I smile and shift around him, pushing him down on his back. "But you just take it easy," I said, crawling over him.

"I can do that," he said, sliding his hands down my body as I press against him.

A while later, we lay together in silence while the moonlight shines through the window, illuminating the room. Zidane's hand brushed absently against the small of my back.

"So… you never did give me a real answer." His voice came just as I was about to nod off.

"About what?"

"I just thought that, since you aren't really in the market for a kingly type of guy anymore… How'd you feel about marrying a lowly thief?"

I smiled, burying my face against his chest. "I was hoping you'd get around to asking me again. The answer's yes."

DAS ENDE

***So there you have it, kiddies. That's the end of the story. I can't promise any sequels or continuations, but who knows? I might get laid off again and have nothing but time on my hands to write. Until then, thank you so much for reading and being so patient with me.***