Mel: I believe Figgy fainted after reading the last chapter...
Figgy: Oooh
Mel: BUT THIS CHAPTER HAS EVEN MORE DRAMA!
Figgy: Ooh...my weak stomach...

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Chapter Seven: Fratley

I stare down at Freya, looking up at me with wonder.

“Ex…excuse me?” I splutter at her confession. Freya laughs softly as she peers at my face.

“You…you’re my first love. My first romantic experience,” she says, caressing my face. I frown in confusion.

“But…I don’t remember you…” I say, shaking my head, stepping away from her. This is crazy. I don’t know what’s going on…

Freya looks at the floor for a moment then looks sharply back up at me.

“Of course you didn’t,” she says, enlightenment spread across her face. “You had amnesia, remember? You’re not going to remember me…”

She sits down on the rail and I sit next to her, looking down at her all the time. She stares at the floor, fiddling with her fingers.

“Do you remember,” she says, “when you were 17? A game of truth or dare?”

I look back and see myself, playing the game. I close my eyes and suddenly it all comes rushing back. I remember a young girl; with silver shoulder length hair and green eyes…and I remember the kisses we shared…

I sharply look at Freya, and see that girl looking back at me, eyebrows raised.

“Oh my gods…” I whisper. I’m shaking all over.

Freya smiles faintly at me. “Big surprise, huh?” she says in a laughing tone. I shake my head at her in wonder. I …

“Why did you leave so quickly?” Freya asks, her smile fading and a face of sadness appearing instead. I think back and smile sadly at her.

“I…I was scared.”

“Scared?” Freya echoes. “Why were you scared?”

I stroke her right arm. “I had the full hots for you, Freya, and didn’t know what you’d say if I asked you out. I was afraid you might reject me…” I hang my head while still looking at her, feeling small and stupid.

Freya strokes my back and smiles comfortingly.

“Of course I wouldn’t reject you,” she whispers. “I love you too.”

I bolt upright at these words. “You…love me?” I whisper happily, feeling tears come to my eyes. “But…what about Amarant?”

Freya looks at me. “I loved you before, even when I was in love with Ammy. A part of me remembered and loved you…and that part was bigger than I thought.” Her voice cracks slightly at her next words. “I can’t believe I did that to your face…” she chokes and starts sobbing. I put an arm round her. “I can’t believe I called you a bitch,” I laugh. “We didn’t know.”

Freya shakes her head. “No, we didn’t,” she whispers. We stare into each other’s eyes for a few seconds then kiss tenderly.

I close my eyes, focusing on nothing but Freya, on how much I love her, how much she means to me…

I suddenly hear someone choking and Freya and me break apart quickly, looking sharply at the newcomer.

OH MY GODS…IT’S AMARANT.

“What the hell are you doing?” he cries at us, leaning on the rail to keep himself steady. Lani peers through the open door, gaping at us with a shocked expression on her face.

Freya immediately pulls away from me and hangs her head at Amarant.

“You may as well be ashamed, young lady! How long has this been going on for? Since you met? That’s it, isn’t it? You’ve been getting it on with him all the time we were married, you slag!”

Freya looks up at her with so much fire in her eyes I swear they turn red.

“You want to know how long we’ve been together?” she growls menacingly at Amarant. “FIVE BLOODY MINUTES.”

Amarant gapes at her for a few seconds then looks at me. I look at the floor, not wanting to make eye contact.

“Fratley,” Amarant says hoarsely, as if choked up. “How could you?”

“It’s your fault.” I whisper. They hear.

“Fratley, don’t!” Freya cries. Amarant walks up to me and peers into my eyes.

“What did you say?”

“It’s your fault!” I yell in his face. “If you hadn’t gone off with that Lani this never would have happened! It’s your entire fault! I HATE YOU!”

Everything seems to happen at once: Amarant punches me in the face, knocking me to the ground, and gets out his claws, Freya screams and tries to tug Amarant off me, Lani screams too and also tries to do the same. And I lie here, blood trickling down my mouth, out-staring him.

I stare at him so deeply that Amarant looks away in shame and gets up. He helps me up and puts his claws away.

“Fratley I…I’m so sorry…” he tries to apologise. I look over his shoulder and Amarant turns around and we see Freya halfway through the doorway, tears rolling in streams down her cheeks.

“Freya…” Amarant says, grabbing her hand. Freya slaps it off and sobs, “You’re not my Ammy anymore, and you’ve turned into a right bastard! GO AWAY YOU FAKE!” and she runs into the castle.

Amarant looks at me, worried.

“I’ll go,” I say, determined.

“Freya?” I call out everywhere. She is nowhere to be seen. I ask everyone but no one knows where she is. I ask Eiko and she tells me Freya was running up the stairs crying. I thank her and run upstairs, skipping three stairs at a time. I run into all the bedrooms and come to the last one, praying and hoping. I burst open the door.

Freya lies on the bed, a dagger in her hand. I stare at the red sheets. Red!

“Freya!” I cry, and run over to her and turn her over. Looking over her body, I see that she has stabbed herself in the heart…

“NO!” I yell, shaking her. “AMARANT! COME QUICKLY!”

Amarant runs up and gives out a strangled yelp when he sees Freya’s body. I check Freya’s pulse. It’s weak.

“She’s still alive!” I smile faintly, but it fades quickly when I notice Freya has lost a lot of blood. “Please don’t die,” I whisper to her desperately, Amarant has tears in his eyes himself.

“Why? It’s all my fault, I’ve screwed up everything!” he wails and buries his face into his hands. I stare at him amazed. This is the first time he has cried in front of me…

“There’s still time. Get Eiko and Queen Garnet. We need their healing skills. I have a spell or two handy, but we need strong magic to do this job. GO!” I shout. Amarant nods and hurriedly runs downstairs. I immediately get to work and cast a spell to replace her lost blood, focusing on my objective.

Eiko and Garnet rush in and Eiko immediately puts her hands to work, casting Curaga and Life and Full-life. Garnet casts Panacea to get rid of any germs that may have entered Freya while her wound was gaping. She also casts Stop to make sure Freya does not feel any pain.

I watch anxiously at the girl I love. I loved her for five minutes, and now her life is hanging in the balance…

I pad impatiently outside while the girls work. Amarant and Lani nibble their fingernails. A few other people crowd round the door, not knowing what’s going to happen. Eiko and Garnet have begged for anyone who knows the arts of White Magic to aid them in their task.

I sigh, and wipe the tears that are threatening my voice, trying to grab hold of it and choking me.

Suddenly Eiko peeps out, a broad grin on her face.

“We managed to stitch up the wound and replace the lost blood, but she’s still weak. Garnet’s doing some extra spells to get any germs out. I think Freya wants to see you.” She says to me. Amarant gets up as well.

“No, just Fratley.” Eiko says apologizing. Amarant nods and sits back down.

I walk in and close the door behind me. Eiko and Garnet move sideways, giving me a view of Freya on the bed. The sheets have been changed, and Freya is in fresh new clothes. Bandages go round her chest.

Eiko and Garnet exit the room with the other “doctors” leaving just Freya and me.

I walk up to her and sit on the bed next to her, stroking her hair.

“Freya?” I whisper softly. Freya’s eyelids flutter slightly at my voice. She opens them and sees me, and smiles softly.

“How are you?” I ask jokingly. Freya tries to laugh but starts coughing and a bit of blood comes from her mouth.

“Terrible,” she utters.

“Try not to laugh too much. You’re lucky that Eiko and Garnet were here to save you.” I say wisely. Freya nods and lies back down. Then tears leak from her sad eyes and she starts sobbing.

“I’m an idiot,” she cries. I sniff away my own tears.

“No you’re not,” I say, “you’re the most amazing woman I have ever met.”

Freya smiles at the compliment and grabs my arm, pulling me towards her. She whispers one word to me.

“Amarant,”

I nod and go outside. Amarant looks up at me and I gesture him inside. When inside he kneels by Freya.

“Freya I…I’m so sorry…I’m a screw up…” he wails. Freya looks concerned and strokes his face. I stand watching them.

“It’s alright. I regret it now.” She whispers. Amarant stops crying and looks at her thoughtfully.

“Hey Freya…how about we start over?”

Freya frowns slightly at him. “What do you mean?” she asks.

“Do you want to get back together with me?” he replies, holding her hand.

Freya gasps slightly. “What about Lani?”

“I don’t know how I feel about Lani at the moment…but…Freya, I know how I feel about you…”

He strokes Freya’s face and she pulls him down and they kiss. I watch horrified at the girl who just a few hours ago declared her love for me.

It’s all too much. I blink away the tears that emerge from my eyes put I can’t stop them spilling. Freya opens her eyes while still kissing Amarant and sees.

She gently pushes Amarant back. He smiles at her.

“So…when’s the wedding going to be?” he chuckles. Freya frowns slightly at him and breathes deeply and speaks.

“I’m sorry Ammy…I can’t.”

Amarant’s smile fades. “But…”

Freya attempts to get up. I turn around and stare at Freya, shocked.

“Lani needs you. She’s carrying your baby, I’m not. Now go and make her proud. Please.” She demands slightly. Amarant gets up and smiles down at her.

“You always were one hell of a woman.” He chuckles again, and exits. I stand transfixed at the door, mouth gaping open, in an astonished expression.

“Fratley, come here.” Freya says, waking me from my daydream.

I go over to her. “What’s up?” I ask.

Freya looks up at me with eyes glittering. “Lani needs Amarant,” she whispers. I frown slightly at her. “Yeah?” I say.

Freya grabs my shirt and pulls me down so our noses our touching.

“And I need you,” she whispers in my ear. I look down at her and run a hand through her hair and we stare into each other’s eyes for a long time, and then edge forward and our lips meet in a passionate kiss…

A FEW MONTHS LATER

The harp begins to play the Cleyran Wedding March. Everyone stands up as they all crane round to see the bride. The Priest walks slowly down the aisle and stands in front of him, who stands grinning at the young Burmecian woman who is also walking down the aisle, her face completely hidden by her veil. An older man links arms with her.

A young girl with a horn walks behind her. She is wearing a purple dress to match her purple hair. However, she seems slightly annoyed at this fact.

Freya, Odeon and Eiko stand at the end of the aisle. The harp starts playing the first song and everyone starts to sing.

Eiko walks in front of Freya and lifts up the veil revealing her long shining silver hair and bright emerald green eyes.

Then she turns to him and smiles gently.

Freya, Odeon and Eiko stand at the end of the aisle. The harp starts playing the first song and everyone starts to sing. After the song has been sung, the wedding ceremony is under way. The vows are said, and the exchange of rings is done.

“People,” the Priest smiles at us all. “I announce these two…husband and wife!”

Everyone cheers as they kiss. Then they sign the registers and exit the church.

“Oh Fratley,” she says. “It’s so beautiful, the flowers here!”

He smiles at her. “Maybe someone arranged it for you.” He says, and waggles his eyebrows at her. She smiles and they kiss passionately as everyone crowds round them.

We step into the airship and set off for Lindblum and Regent Cid greets us there.

“My goodness,” he chuckles. “I seem to be getting a sense of dejavu!”

We laugh and go into the ballroom, just like it was so many times before, just as elegant. And then music starts playing and I sweep Freya into my arms.

“Shall we?” I ask posh.

“Ladies and gentlemen, or new couple will now have their first dance,” the conductor announces.

Freya laughs and we dance in the middle of the room, her head rested on my chest, her eyes closed.

“I love you, Fratley,” she whispers. I smile sweetly down at her.

“Love you too, sweetheart.” I whisper back.

Suddenly we hear a call, “Freya! Frats!” and Amarant comes running up to us.

“Look at what happened a couple of months ago!” he says, with an extremely large grin.

Lani comes up to us, holding a baby boy in her arms.

“Aw!” Freya simpers, gazing at the baby. “What’s his name?”

“Liam.” Lani replies. She looks up at me. “Want a hold?”

I grin as I hold Liam gently. He looks up at me with his red eyes.

“Hi there, Liam. I’m your Uncle Frats!” I chuckle down at him.

After a while, Lani takes Liam and a tipsy (ahem) Amarant home. Freya and I dance again, oblivious to anything but ourselves.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr and Mrs. Fratley!” Eiko calls out. Everyone cheers as Freya and I kiss again.

Freya yawns when we break apart.

“Tired?” I chuckle at her. Freya nods.

“We’d better go then. We’ll miss our ship otherwise.” I say. Freya giggles as she looks up at me with wide eyes.

We say goodbye to everyone and I drag Freya to the Serpent’s Gate. On the dock is a huge cruise ship, called the Blue Narciss. The sign on the board says CRUISE TO ESTO GAZA and Freya’s eyes go even wider.

“Oh Frats…” she says breathless.

“Only the best for my angel,” I say, putting an arm round her. She flings her arms round me and kisses me.

“This is the best day of my life. AND I MEAN IT THIS TIME!” Freya cries, tears rolling down her cheeks. I wipe them away.

“Come on, no need to cry. We have to celebrate!” I grin. We get on board. The boat leaves and we say goodbye to Lindblum.

“How was that?” I ask Freya as we lie in bed together.

“Perfect. Just like my last marriage,” Freya sighs, her head on my chest, caressing my arms.

“Only this time you won’t split up,” I point out. Freya looks up at me and kisses me.

“No. Never. This time is for keeps.” She nods.

I love her. And now I have her.

From what started off as a little Christmas wedding turned into the worst nightmare…or in my case, the best length of time in my life…

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Figgy: This was a fic made up by Mel and only Mel ahahahah
Mel: So NO NICKING!
Figgy: Thanks to almighty Square for creating the FF9 world
Mel: PLEASE R AND R!