Synopsis: Ashe reflects on her love life and a certain young sky pirate
Characters: Ashe, Vaan; mentions of Penelo, Rasler
Pairings: Vaan/Ashe, reminiscent Rasler/Ashe

My Queen
by PuppyNoelle

'Could a queen really love a sky pirate?' That's what Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca asked herself after dining with the young pirate partners, Vaan and Penelo, for the second night that week. She didn't understand her own feelings even, nonetheless any logic behind them.

She became so jealous of Penelo sometimes. She recognized the brother and sister like bond the dancer shared with Vaan, yet all Ashe could think of was how much closer the younger woman was to him. She loved Penelo like a sister, she knew that. She could not deny how fond she was of the girl. But love can blind people- and Vaan did that to the queen.

She didn't know when she first realized that she had fallen for Vaan, but she knew she had fallen hard. It was so strange because when she fell in love with Rasler, things had been completely different. She didnt have this burning passion that she felt the need to suppress. She hadn't been so afraid of getting in too deep before. She was head-over-heels this time, and just could not find the courage to tell him.

As she retired to her room after losing miserably to Vaan in a game of poker (she had never been able to grasp the game, and his street smarts made him a pro at it) she felt as if she were being followed. Ashe made haste to her room, but before she could close the door a certain blonde pirate opened it wide, a mischievous grin parting his lips.

"Yes Vaan?" she asked, nervous as hell but speaking with as little emotion as possible.
"May I come in?" was the simple and polite reply, yet there was a strange fire behind his eyes that she could not decipher.
"Of course."

She moved deeper into the room, allowing him entrance. He closed and locked the door behind them.

She noticed, whirling around, confusion written on her face. "Vaan? Why did you lock the d-"

Soft lips had pressed themselves firmly against her own. She melted into his safe embrace, allowing his arms to snake around her petite waist.

When he broke the kiss, he took one look into her eyes, and said, "I knew it. You really are my queen afterall."

Ashe could do nothing but keep silent and allow the young pirate to kiss her again and whisper the words she had been dying to hear: "I love you."

For once this ruler could not care less about the consequences of her actions. All she wanted now was the feeling of his skin touching hers, and waking up in the morning held by those strong arms. Yes. A queen really can love a pirate. Love knows no social class, and it knows no age. Love just is. This is what Ashelia B'Nargin learned that night she spent with Vaan Ratsbane.

A/N: Just a short and sweet little drabble. I'll get back to working on the big stuff soon, as my final exams are almost over.

Much Love!