Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Kratos sat on the bed, stroking his fingers through the hair of it's sleeping occupant.

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore..." he muttered. "I don't know...what..."

He looked at the boy sleeping next to him, the teen's brown hair falling over his face, obscuring his left

eye. Kratos' eyes widened, he could see a resemblance in that face.

"...I never wanted to leave, you know. "Kratos continued, looking out the window at the snowing

night sky. "I never wanted to leave you alone, I never..." his voice cracked, running his fingers through

his son's hair. He slept so peacefully, you'd think he hadn't a single care in the world. Not...a care...

"I wish I could've seen you grow up..." he muttered. "I wish...I wish I could've been there, for your

first day of school, your first friends, I wish I could've been there to...be your father..."

Kratos closed his eyes, quivering slightly.

"I'm nothing." he stated. "I can't do anything right. I let Martel die, I let Mithos lose himself, I

didn't help Yuan, I ran away, I couldn't help your mother, I couldn't help you...even when I finally had

you with me again, even when..." he choked. "I...still...let you go...now...now what am I doing? I'm still

with Cruxis, still with it! After all of that!" he sobbed. "What kind of person am I...? Why...why can't I

do the right thing? Why am I never...why am I never where I need to be...?"

"You are." a voice murmured.

Kratos froze, his heart skidding to a stop in his chest. The angel slowly looked to his right, where his

hand was still on the teen's head. Lloyd's eyes were open, he was frowning.

"You- you're awake..." Kratos stammered.

"..." Lloyd looked at him. "You're at the right place alot."

"..."

"You saved us, remember? At the Iselia temple, the Renegades were about to kill us."

"But-"

"It doesn't matter WHY you were there, you still saved us." Lloyd stated firmly. "And what about

when Colette got kidnapped? You just so HAPPENED to be there with clues, hints, you pretty much

told us how to save her, not only with that, but with that crystal disease."

"..."

"...You still being in Cruxis is being in the 'right place' too." Lloyd said. "If you weren't, we...wouldn't

have been able to save Colette. In Derris-Kharlan, we only got the mana fragment because you sent

that message, and...you could see us, couldn't you? From that projector?"

Kratos paled. Impossible. Lloyd could see right through him, so easily...

"You pretty much GAVE it to us." the teen continued. "And...whatever you're doing now, I'm sure

it's to help us, right? Those things you've been looking for...they're to help us, aren't they?"

"And whatever it is, you can't get them without being in Cruxis, can you?" Lloyd asked. "So you're in

the right place, again. But..." he bit his lip. "You don't have to stay there forever..."

"Lloyd..."

Lloyd moved his hand and put it on top of Kratos', who's hand was still in Lloyd's hair.

"...It's weird." Lloyd said. "But this feels familiar..."

"...I used to...I used to do this when you were small..." Kratos muttered. "I'd run my fingers through

your hair, and I'd talk. To myself, sometimes to you...sometimes both."

"..." Lloyd closed his eyes. "It's...really weird. I mean...I just found out you were my dad

yesterday, but...I don't feel suprised, I feel...like...I've always known it..."

Kratos started to say something but his voice cracked, his throat felt like it was blocked.

Lloyd opened his eyes again. "...I should feel scared. I should be suspicious. You're...the 'enemy', no

matter who you are, I shouldn't trust you. I shouldn't let you in the same room as me."

"..." Kratos' eyes watered.

"But..." Lloyd whispered. "I feel...more comfortable with you here...like...you're watching me..." he

closed his eyes slowly. "Like...you're...my dad..."

"..." the angel paled, his eyes brimming with tears.

"...Could you stay here? A little...a little longer?" Lloyd murmured sleepily.

"...Yes." Kratos choked. "Sweet dreams..." he kissed Lloyd's forehead. "My baby..."

...Heh, see, this is the kind of stuff I just live for. I love it when I write like this...