Author's Note: Phew! Again! This is a long 'un…but when are they any different? This was should have been finished a lot sooner and I wanted so much more to go into it, but I decided this will be sufficient for the moment. Be warned that there is strong sexual references and adult stuff….hence the M rating. But by all means…do enjoy. XD

Unable To Touch

"Basch? Are you awake? Basch! Are you conscious? If you are, don't open your eyes, please? I beg you not to!"

The begging voice was beginning to get on his nerves. He didn't feel well and he had a splitting headache. He wasn't entirely aware of where he was, but he knew that he felt absolutely awful. He wanted to be sick, he wanted to have a pee but he was always careful when it came to relieving himself of his bodily fluids. He needed to confirm where he was and with who.

He prayed and prayed that he wasn't with the dancer. His life might as well be over now if he was, so cautiously he opened his eyes. The bright light was too much so he screwed them back shut again. Okay, looking is not an option right now.

"Feel your surroundings, how do they feel?"

He was sitting down on something soft and yet scratchy at the same time. His back was leant against something wooden, not smooth like a bedpost but rough; splinters caught at his skin and there was a piece of metal niggling just above his shoulder. He tried to move and then when he felt the wet patch on the hay (it was obvious it was hay) his whole body jerked in a horrifying alertness. The smell was strong; he knew where he was now.

"Kweh!"

The over powering aroma of Chocobo and its stench of urine made Basch conclude there was only one place he could be. The private Chocobo stables were a lot smaller than the main ones used for the soldiers; only a few people had permission to be in here as the Chocobo's themselves were prized breeds. Basch felt one approach him; he heard the claws on the hay and the curious flapping of its wings. With his eyes still closed, Basch stayed still as the Chocobo bent down to his face. Its breath puffed on him, hot and smelly before nuzzling softly at his face and hair.

"Kweh?"

The beak nipped affectionately at Basch; it was obviously a female, for it began to lightly nuzzle and nip over his body, the way a mother would groom and clean her chicks. Basch gently (though with great effort) lifted his foot and pushed her away from him. She came back to him several more times, her beak and her "grooming" going ever lower. Each time Basch pushed her away a little more forcefully.

"Basch….is everything all right?"

"KWEH!"

"Holy hells!"

Basch was more than awake now. The tip of a Chocobo's beak just grazing the inside of a person's thighs was enough to wake anyone up. He tried to leap to his feet, his startled cries upset the Chocobo and she now scurried away to the other side of the stable and riled up the others. The squawking was too much; Basch really did want to be sick.

Why was all this happening to him? Iliana…the dancer…now the damned Chocobo? Why did everything have to go wrong?

Basch tried to get up again, but found that he could only get half way up to his full height before being dragged back down again. The reason for this was that his hands were quite securely cuffed to the wooden post he was leaning against. Great…he was chained up again. Why does it always happen to him?

"Basch…you all right? You going to be sick?"

He moaned some kind of groaning reply, frowning, though as his head was drooped forward on his chest, his sweaty blonde hair covered his scrunched up face. He really wanted to be sick, but something even more terrible and horrifying dawned on him.

"Erm….?"

"It's me, Basch. Vaan."

"Can you tell me something?"

"I'll try."

"Have I got all my clothes on?"

"Truthfully?"

"I always appreciate your honesty, Vaan."

"Okay….then no. You haven't." Basch heard extreme panic and distress in the young man's voice. No doubt from having seen him naked. "But don't worry, Basch I've got my eyes closed too. I only opened them once and well…." Vaan couldn't say anymore.

Basch shuddered. He needed to get out of here and smarten himself up in time for the bonding ceremony. But he was naked, hung over and really needing to pee. The pain in his bladder was beginning to reach the point that moving in the slightest may upset things.

"We're in her Majesty's private stables…aren't we?" Vaan confirmed Basch's question. "I'm naked, handcuffed to the post and in big trouble. So, Vaan…I need your help. Uncuff me; get me some clothes, some water and preferably a bucket! I will not ruin this for Ashelia, I will not let Balthier's foolish prank to finish what has not even begun! Are you with me Vaan?"

"Sure, Basch. I'm with you. I don't want Ashe to be angry at you….I don't want Penelo to find out either…but there is one small problem."

"What?"

"I'm handcuffed to the other post opposite you."

Basch opened his eyes. The horrible bright light again painfully assaulted his senses, but he forced himself to keep them open. It was a good few minutes before everything came into focus. Yes, he was in the stables and four or five of the finest Chocobos were mulling around, chirping happily to themselves. The one who had sniffed him earlier was still eyeing him up. No…he didn't need an in heat bird to be making things more complicated now.

He at last spotted his other, unfortunate, companion. He was indeed handcuffed to the wooden post opposite him. He too was naked.

Vaan grinned sheepishly and from behind his back, Basch saw his hand wave whilst still in the handcuffs. It wasn't all that he saw, much to the embarrassment of Vaan, but for Basch it wasn't what he wanted to see, after all, Vaan wasn't the one going to be married, he wasn't going to be in this condition.

He began to think of Ashe. He had to think of his beloved to get Vaan's nakedness out of his mind. He closed his eyes.

Ashe…beautiful, wonderful Ashelia…naked, luscious beneath his body, her arms stretched above her, inviting him to worship her. Her angelic face, her sleek silky skin was glistening with warm sweat; she panted soft loving gasps of his name as he nuzzled around her neck, the giggle fluttered from her lips as his beard tickled her skin. She kissed him and sighed, mouthing the words "I love you, Basch".

Basch groaned, wishing it was real.

He was kissing her, touching her skin with his hands and lips, stroking down her creamy thighs and making her quiver. He trailed delicate caresses across her still slim stomach; he teased every part of her body, finding the spots that she loved…

He groaned again as his thoughts began to become clearer and real.

His hands and his mouth sank lower, his eyes still watching the pleasured glowing expressions on her face. He moved down near those straining shaking legs before kissing the delicate folds between them with his tongue…the sounds she made, those little mews and moans that drove him wild. The rush of her, the taste of her….

Oh no.

"Whoa, Basch! Man! That's not…I didn't need to see that!"

"It's a perfectly normal reaction!" Basch snapped rather abruptly and loudly, perturbed that he had "zoned" out for a moment. He quickly recovered though and with his usual calm and stoicism, which worried Vaan, he added "It was not in response to you."

"I hope it's not in response to me!" Vaan choked, becoming even more agitated that Basch happened to be naked, suddenly aroused and not that far from him.

"Kindly stop shouting, Vaan. It is making my headache worse."

"I'm not shouting! I'm just speaking loudly in a very startled manner, because I'm freaking out at seeing what I really shouldn't be seeing from you, Basch! "

"We're both men, Vaan. You shouldn't be embarrassed. It's natural."

"WHAT?" Vaan began to choke, "Basch how can you be so damned calm about it? This is not right! I don't really think me seeing you get…y'know…up….is natural."

"I apologise if it makes you uncomfortable. But you understand, as a man, that these things do happen."

"Basch, I don't want to see you naked!"

"You'll get used to it."

"Huh?" Vaan's thoughts were going more than haywire at the words from the older man. They were going into melt down. "I hope not! Anyway, how come you're not panicking about all this? Surely you're uncomfortable with being on display as well?"

"Myself being on display? No. You…a little. I am, however more presently worried about how we can get out from here."

And if Vaan will be able to perform his role in the ceremony.

"We are in a lot of trouble, aren't we?" Vaan sighed, crossing over his legs to hide himself.

"KWEH!"

The silence was extremely uncomfortable. Vaan had his eyes firmly shut and both of them tried (in vain) to get loose from their bonds. It never worked and it didn't help when all the rest of the Chocobos began to snuffle and sniff around them both.

"You were thinking of Ashe…weren't you?" asked Vaan, hopefully and he pulled at his bonds.

"Of course." said Basch, flicking his foot to keep away a squawking angry male that was no doubt trying to pick a fight with him.

"Good. That's….that's good to know."

There was a long dragging silence, until Basch felt something land on his lap. The thick woollen blanket was warm and although it didn't hide the arousal his thoughts of Ashe had given him, it covered the full bare sight of it from the old wizened man that now stood above the two of them.

"Children are you ready to leave?" asked Sarvani, a disgruntled look upon his ancient face.

"It would be a pleasure to be out of this place and to be wearing some clothes." said Vaan, as he too was given a blanket to cover himself. The Helgas man didn't respond to that and proceeded to free both of the men from the posts.

"You are not going to lecture us, sir?" asked Basch, more than ashamed that Sarvani had been the one to find them. Though as he thought about it, it did make sense; the dream-seer would have been the logical choice to find them as he would have experienced the visions in his sleep. Poor guy, not the best dream to ever have.

"No, I'm not going to lecture you, boys because this was not of your doing. Someone else was responsible for your extreme predicament."

"Balthier." Basch growled under his breath.

"Indeed." Sarvani clutched his hands beneath the long trailing sleeves of his robe. "But what is important is that you and your friend prepare yourselves. The bonding ceremony will begin in a few hours."

"A few hours?" gasped Vaan, flapping away the heated female Chocobo that was now sniffing at the blanket wrapped round his waist.

"By the gods…it's almost noon!" Basch nearly collapsed down to his knees in shock. He wasn't prepared, he wasn't ready and neither were his "best men." Balthier, Vaan, Garner and yes even Larsa's little role in this, had not been fully explained. They didn't fathom at all what they each had to do for him during this upcoming month. There wasn't enough time.

"Do not panic, young Basch." Sarvani rested a long bony clawed hand on his bare shoulder. "There is time. The Official from Landis is overseeing the last touches to the room right now and her majesty is already with her ladies. Come with me, I will take you to where you can have a shower and…other necessary…things."

Vaan was impatient and had headed already to the doors. He looked very pale and groggy in the sunlight, he could barely keep his eyes open either, but he was determined to get out of here before anyone else came along to question his state of dress.

"I must thank you, my lord." said Basch. "I feel so ashamed…"

"Boys will be boys…" Sarvani sighed. "I maybe several hundred…give or take…years old, but that doesn't mean I didn't get into similar predicaments when I was your age. I understand, I just hope you learn from this mistake…as well. And of course, not to make quite so many more in the future."

"Yes, my lord." Basch hopped from foot to foot. "Sir, may I suggest we hurry? I am in dire need to relieve myself."

"Aw! Basch!" Vaan shuddered.

"I need to go to the toilet!" Basch scowled.

Lord Sarvani chuckled lightly as he listened to the young hume's bickering with fondness, leading them out of the stables. To be this young again, he sighed. To be in love again, to just experience the problems the youth thought were so important…they were so lucky.

Fran stood at the top of the stairs that cut down through the circled room, with astonished eyes at the beauty before her.

One of the old state rooms in the palace had been completely transformed; where it once had been a cold dark unsettling place, it was now illuminated by soft white lights floating like thousands of crystal flies in the air, glinting off gossamer drapes of silver and red that hung from the walls. At the centre of the room, directly below her, was a fireplace of black stone and next to it on either side were two marble pedestals with tall ceramic vases on top. On the floor, covering the entire cold hard surface, were an assortment of thick throws, blankets, sheets and cushions; all coloured with gentle whites and reds like the drapes. It looked tempting and inviting for Fran to go and lie down, but she gathered that it was not her position to do so.

This was the setting for Basch and Ashe's ceremony. This was where they were going to spend the next two months proving their worth to not only them, but to the stern looking Landis woman dressed in white standing next to Talven, Reion and Ondore.

"Everything seems to be in order." Fran heard the woman utter. "Her Majesty and her party are all present, we just need the Captain and his entourage to get here before we can commence."

Their conversation continued, but Fran ignored them, knowing it was not her place to interrupt or question what was going to happen. Instead, she became focused on the young hume woman standing next to her.

Ashe was crying. Again.

Pregnant hume women did this a lot apparently. It was a mystery how she didn't become dehydrated.

"Is something wrong, Ashe?" Penelo asked softly as the Queen touched her shaking hands to her face.

"She doesn't like it…does she?" Fran sighed. "She hates it."

Ashe snorted loudly as she tried to halt her sniffles, she opened her mouth to say something, but instead the already streaming tears intensified and she found herself slumping into Penelo's arms, allowing herself to be tightly embraced.

"Hates it?" Penelo shook her head, her wide eyes also seeming to be on the verge of tears. "This place is heavenly…it's beautiful! She loves it!"

Ashe nodded her head, her face rubbing against the white of Penelo's long dress. She whimpered as she realised she had just smeared her runny nose across the shoulder.

"Then why is she crying?"

"She's happy." said Marlene. "She's overcome with joy, that is why she is crying and I don't blame her. I never thought the setting could be anything like this…it's astounding! Breath-taking!"

"It's like someting from a fairytale, Majesty!" Maya added, dabbing her own watery eyes with a handkerchief. "It's certainly befitting for the Queen of Dalmasca! How I wish your father could have seen it! Though...I still cannot believe what we are supposed to do…"

Neither could Fran. Her own body was still getting strange jolts as she recalled Ashe going through their duties and it was a duty. They had all said they would do this for her, but Fran had the suspicion that, whilst she had her apprehension and fears, it was nothing compared to what Marlene was going to have to do.

"I can't believe it!" Ashe said at long last, pulling out of her friend's hold and looking down at the scene with a sappy smile. She sniffed and wiped her eyes, pleased that this ceremony had stated no make-up to be worn. "It's….oh I don't think I can bear this anymore! A whole month, in this beautifully romantic room…inches away from him and to not touch him? I'll go mad! I think I have already!"

"You will get through this, Ashe!" Penelo said, giving the Queen a squeezing hug. She spoke with great confidence in her friend, but Fran could hear the worry, the trembling in her voice at the thought of what lay ahead for them all. "You will be strong as you always have been and when this month is over…well the second month you know full well we won't be able to pry you two apart!"

"But…what about the babies? How am I going to tell him about…?"

"You'll tell him when it's appropriate…when it feels right. Right?"

Ashe only looked down to her belly, pressing her hands against it. Her silence kept the others quiet too and whilst all the ladies knew the men were late, they never said anything in case it upset Ashelia even further. Instead, they watched as the Landisian official made the final checks of the room.

Fran hoped that Basch and the others would get here soon

Larsa had been waiting for a long time. Basch, who had always been punctual, didn't show up when he said he would. Yet the little Emperor was no fool, he knew what Bachelor parties entailed and he knew why he had been disallowed from going to it. He concluded that the "groom" and the other "best men" were struggling to get here whilst suffering from hangovers and what else they had been stricken down with because of the all the "partae-ing!"

The servants and workers who had been setting up the room worked exceptionally quickly. He watched in fascination as they rushed back and forth, his anticipation and excitement always growing at what the finished room would look like.

Kytes had come along and sat with him, Larsa thankful for the company, because the knights, soldiers and even his own guards were very boring on conversation, when there was any at all. The two other delegates who had come along with Marlene; Daffyd and Arnon had also come to offer their support for Basch, but when they too grew inpatient, Larsa bid them leave back to Archadia.

So instead, both the young teens tried to find out exactly what Larsa's role was going to be in this.

"It's something to do with food." Larsa said despondently. "I hope they don't ask me to cook. I have some skills, certainly…but I wouldn't know where to begin with catering for a Landisian ceremony."

"I'm clueless as you, sire." said Kytes. Larsa shook his head. He wished that Kytes would just call him by his own name. "But I must say that white you're wearing wouldn't be much good if you were to cook."

Larsa nodded in agreement and looked down at the light airy clothes that he wore. The sleeves were long, but manageable at the moment; the top was secured snugly to him by a single red sash around his waist and the hem of the trousers stopped just above his ankles.

"Very smart though. Not that you don't ever look smart anyway, sir."

"My name is Larsa. Please, call me as such."

Kytes nodded sheepishly and was about to speak up again, when the door to the waiting room opened up and the man they had been waiting for finally came through, followed by the others. Garner, Vaan and Balthier were dressed in the same clothes as Larsa did and it was only Balthier who looked pristine and chipper. Basch was wearing something different, a blood red robe of silk, with a black Landisian pattern on the back, to make him stand out. He looked better than he felt, no doubt the healing potions and elixirs curing some of the hangover he suffered from, but the dark circles under his eyes showed Larsa that his guardian had definitely over indulged himself.

"I'm pleased that you finally showed up." said the Emperor.

"I'm sorry, my lord." Basch said smoothing back his hair with a shaking hand. "I was detained."

Larsa noted the angry stares both he and Vaan gave Balthier. The pirate just grinned back as if he was immensely pleased with himself, but that smug reaction only made a deep snarling growl rumble in Basch's throat.

"We do not have time to go into lengthy details about your roles, "said Basch addressing them all. "But each of you will have a specific duty. Idris, as neither of my parents are alive and I have no other family, as my brother in arms; my friend, I would like you to take up this role. I consider you family, not just a friend."

"I'm honoured." Idris patted his friend's shoulder. "Thank you."

"Vaan, you will be entrusted with keeping vigil over my actions. Or for this month, the lack of them. You are to make sure that I do not touch Ashelia at all."

"Sounds easy enough." Vaan grinned, thinking that he did indeed have the easiest task of all of them. "I've got a big stick I could hit you with, if you try anything! Right?"

"That won't be necessary, but thankyou. My lord Larsa…you will do what I did for my cousin at his ceremony. You will be my food bearer. When I wish for nourishment and refreshment you will get it for me. I hope you don't find that task..."

Larsa held up his hand to cut him off.

"It will make a nice change for me to do something for you." Larsa bobbed his head. "Please do not think that because of who I am, I would be unwilling to undertake this for you."

"Thank you, sir." Basch then looked to Balthier. He was still angry at the younger man, for what Larsa didn't want to know, but now it seemed that Basch was actually going to have difficulty in talking to him. "Balthier…you are not to be in my service for this."

"Oh?" Balthier's eyebrow raised and he chuckled lightly, which again made Basch growl. The others didn't like it; Basch was struggling with this decision. "I thought I was to be your best man. You did ask me, did you not?"

"The best man for this job…aye." Basch closed his eyes for a few seconds and muttered some mantra of calming before looking Balthier directly in the eye. It was a stare that wiped the smile off Balthier's face. "You will be the best man to test my endurance."

"I thought Ashe would be doing that, being as you'll be unable to touch her." said Idris, frowning in confusion.

"She will be…but Balthier, you will be even more so."

"I…I don't understand." Neither did Larsa. Basch turned away from Balthier and stood in front of the very door that Ashe would be behind, waiting for him and he lovingly pressed his hand against the smooth surface of the wood. He bowed his head to rest next to it, muttering a poem in Landisian under his breath.

"For this ceremony, you will be tending to Ashelia." he said eventually, when he had repeated the poem a couple of times and composed himself.

"Ahhh!" Balthier caught on. "I'm supposed to make your situation more difficult for you, by being…"

"By being able to touch her."

"Holy crappers!"

Everyone looked at Kytes who immediately slammed his hand over his mouth, his face bright red with shocked embarrassment at his outburst. Vaan sniggered which provoked Larsa into doing the same, but the two eldest men were distracted by the inner door opening.

"Sorry…" Kytes uttered. Vaan just shushed him when Sarvani announced to them all that the ceremony would now begin. Kytes still kept his hand over his lips and watched in awe as Larsa, Garner, Vaan and Balthier strolled past him into the main room; but his mouth hung open even wider and his neck craned back when Basch stood directly in front of him.

"Kytes…I will ask something of you."

A little squeak came from the boy's lips as he tried to say "Me?" When Basch waited for him to stop hyperventilating, he crouched down next to him.

"If you and Filo would mind going down to the Muthru Bazaar and look for Llyud? I have a vague recollection that he maybe down there, passed out beneath one of the arches."

Kytes squeaked again and then finally managed to say "yes sir", prompting Basch to smile at him. Then he nodded his thanks and walked away.

"Holy crappers…the Judge Magister spoke to me."

It took a long while for it to fully register with the young teen before he realised he actually had to go and look for Llyud.

Before he did, he looked to the doors which lead to the ceremony room. He wished the Queen and the Captain a good month ahead.

The fire was lit.

A red glow flickered over the walls and reflected off the shimmering drapes. Not all the floating lights were illuminating, thus keeping the seductive flaming of the fire the main source of light.

Fran was standing next to Ashe's left, dressed in a long white plain dress that covered up most of her body. It was stifling, she wasn't used to these constrictions; she was much more used to having most of her body bare, instead only the cuts around her shoulders and the neckline showed her flesh. And she was bare foot…or clawed. Thankfully, the floor cushioned her claws like the moss of Golomore forest…but still it was too much clothing.

Ashe was wearing a silk robe of red, just like Basch's albeit a more feminine one, but Fran knew that the material was lighter than that of the dress she and the others wore. Marlene stood to Ashe's right, whilst Penelo stood behind her and Maya behind Fran. On the other side of the fire, Basch was with his men, Garner was standing next to the Landisian Official and so was Ondore.

Away from the main circle, sitting up at the top and looking down at them, was Sarvani, Reion and Talven. Fran knew they were not officially part of this ceremony, but in the interests of Dalmasca's people would be privy to see some of it. Did the Kilitas priest know what this entailed? Would his beliefs be outraged at this?

"This is not like any other ceremony I have ever overseen." The Landis woman spoke, breaking the tense silence in the heated room. "Normally the couple themselves come to me and request to go through with the ritual. Instead I have been asked by the head of the Dalmascan council and…strangely a high Kilitas priest, to put this into motion. It is also strange to me that, though not the main purpose, this bonding ceremony is expected to achieve conception of the first child. I have been informed that Her Majesty is already pregnant." The woman bowed towards Ashelia and then to Basch. "I do extend my heartious congratulations to you both. Are your guardians all right with this, it is not an issue for them?"

Garner and Ondore both shook their heads and so did Vaan and Fran. The official smiled and bowed. Then her deep sensual voice spoke up once again.

"In Landis, it is not any god or deity that oversees or blesses a couple's union. It is the decision of the family members whether they are accepted. Then I will make the acceptance and bonding official. We can be the only ones who approve. Queen Ashelia B'Nargan Dalmasca, Basch Fon Ronsenberg, you wish to prove to everyone here, that you are worthy of being together, that you are dedicated to spending the rest of your lives together?"

"We are." Basch and Ashe responded together.

Ever since Basch had walked into the room, Fran saw that they were unable to look away from each other. It already seemed to the couple that no one else was in the room, nor did it seem that anyone else existed. The Landisian woman nodded in approval.

"They are ready. So we shall begin." The woman turned to Ondore, who bowed to one knee. It was a little straining for him and he grunted with a little bit of effort, but he looked up at the woman with such pride. "As the Guardian of Ashelia…do you approve of her choice?"

"I do."

"If there is any cause for doubt in your mind, you are, by Landis law, to speak now."

"I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Basch Fon Ronsenberg is the man for my niece."

Fran heard Ashe sniffle beside her. She looked round and saw that she was indeed crying. The sadness was not showing on her face, rather instead there was the longing for the knight sitting on the other side of the fire. The tears trickled down her white pale cheeks, but she held herself strong and true.

"Tell me about Ashelia B'Nargan Dalmasca."

Fran and everyone else in the room listened as Ondore spoke of the Queen's life. She had known that the beginning was to be Ondore and Garner speaking of the couple's lives. It was the time for them to speak highly of the couple and to show the others what they were really like. Fran did think it a little unnecessary being as Ondore didn't really need to be convinced about Basch's life and how he had led it. But it was tradition; any other Landis couple would have to endure this as well.

Every aspect of their lives had been told. Fran was quite surprised that the woman had asked for the scroll of Prince Rasler's death, but Ashe had explained that the marriage and bonding would not be allowed unless certain circumstances were proven. So Ashe had to provide proof that she was widowed and Basch likewise, had to prove that he had never taken a wife before hand. Talven and Reion objected quite harshly about having Rasler mentioned.

"It is not your place to speak!" the woman bellowed back at them. "You asked for this ceremony, the couple themselves have agreed to everything required!"

It was imperative that all checks of their past were thoroughly scrutinized. They saddened greatly when the once Captain of The Order recalled Rasler's death in battle. Basch could barely speak of how her husband died in his arms, for the subject was still too sore and painful, for both of them. The Landisian woman saw the truth of their anguish and how they wanted to even now give each other comfort because of it. Yet only the couple knew of the guilt they were feeling now.

Once that was done, it was the turn for others to speak. The Official allowed Reion, Talven and Sarvani to voice their concerns…Reion only saying that their age (pah!) and their status of Queen and Knight were not acceptable to all. Fran heard Penelo mutter "blah blah blah" under her breath whilst giving the priest a disapproving scowl.

It was Ondore, Talven and Sarvani that relayed the events of the "war" to the woman.

"Basch did take the blame for something his brother did and most of the people accept that, but there are those who still wish to see him dead. Justice if you will." said Sarvani.

"Those people are not relatives, their opinion will not sway mine in this matter." the woman bluntly said. "Basch has done nothing to demand any kind of punishment in my view and in light of the evidence. I have heard from both families. I am satisfied that the request for this bonding is true and that the couple are dedicated to this long time ahead. So who are the Watchers?"

Fran stepped forward, carefully making sure that her claws were padded in her pawed feet as she did so for she didn't want to rip the beautiful cushioned floor. Vaan was given a nudge in the back from Balthier before he stood forward. Penelo giggled.

"You are the Watchers." The Landisian woman announced. "For the next two months you will be standing vigil over the couple, you have been chosen for this role for your honest and truthful nature. The first four weeks you are responsible for making sure they do not touch and also for the upkeep of the room. Basch and Ashelia may talk, but under no circumstances are they to make physical contact. It will not be easy."

"It's not going to be easy?" Vaan said, trying to hide the whine in his voice. The woman, in fact all the women in the room looked at Basch.

"Did you not tell him what his duties entailed?" asked Penelo a little annoyed.

"There was no time."

The Official smirked just ever so slightly, putting a hume warmth to her pale white skin.

"It will not be easy for you, rest may not be possible. The fire must always be tended to, the Rhosyn must be kept warmed and ready...you are to remain always watchful, even when they sleep."

"Oh…great." Vaan smiled a sarcastic smile. "I won't be getting any sleep? Surely that...I need my sleep!"

"What you rest you get will depend on you and the other Watcher."

The Official tutted and continued with the proceedings. As they and the others were chosen by the couple, more proof was needed to confirm they were who they said they were. It was a difficult thing for Fran as Viera didn't exactly keep records of what they'd done or any personal details, so she recited life story. No one objected, even if it did go on for an exceptionally long time, but everyone was gripped and completely enthralled. She spoke of some of her "pirating" times with Balthier but nothing she revealed on was objected to. In fact her story went on a lot longer as she recalled the years (and years) she had lived. Everyone was just a little bit disappointed when she didn't narrow her exact age down as not even Balthier knew how old she is. The Official was impressed, though she mentioned her concerns about Fran's "criminal" past with Balthier. It was only after a few words from Lord Sarvani about her character that she seemed satisfied.

"I really should be honoured." said the woman to Fran. "Not many from Landis have even seen a Viera let alone ask to take part in our ways. Forgive my doubting you…."

"I take no offence." said Fran. "I fully understand why you did."

And so the introductions continued. Vaan told of his life on the streets, how he had coped and his friendship with Penelo, only to be a little surprised when Talven handed the Official his family records, birth scroll along with his brother's. Fran saw the pride in the young man's frame as he stood tall clasping the papers to his chest.

Garner was acting as a member of Basch's family, but he was also given the task of looking out for Basch's health. It was down to him and Maya to make sure that Basch and Ashe were healthy during their ceremony and he wouldn't have it any other way. It was his duty and honour bound vow to see both of them safe. Garner told everything of his life; of meeting Efa, falling in love and how a certain Knight from Landis set them up. He spoke proudly of his love towards his two children and of his brotherly bond with Basch; whilst Maya spoke about her long distinguished service in Ashe's family and of her own children, long grown up and with ones of their own.

Penelo and Larsa were the food bearers, not much really needed explaining about that role, but when it came to telling of their back rounds, it had been just like Vaan's. It was a sad start of losing parents, or of having a mother negleted; of the struggle to survive and thrive in a world where plague, war and insanity had ripped so much from them. But it was when three friends met and who had remained so to this day that brightened them. Their parts in helping bring peace to Ivalice made them, as well as Basch and Ashe, so uplifted.

"And lastly…your Anointers."

Balthier and Marlene stepped forward, the sky pirate smiling seductively at the auburn haired woman, but Nia just rolled her eyes and clasped her hands behind her back, before commencing her back round story. Balthier tried to listen, but he could only be enchanted and captivated by her fiery beauty. When she had finished, Balthier was more than disconcerted that she hadn't mentioned him or their relationship and was very disconcerted about it, but he kept his mouth shut until it was his turn.

From becoming the youngest ever Judge in Archadian history, to becoming Balthier, Sky Pirate extraordinaire and acclaimed "Leading Man" …Ffamran Bunansa spoke of himself as if it was a thrilling adventure story. He spoke of great travels all over Ivalice and of fiends he had bested and how he had met Fran. Yet his biggest build up was when he spoke of his part in restoring Ashelia to the throne and his heroic deeds in preventing the Bahamut from destroying Rabanastre.

Larsa, Vaan and Penelo loved listening to his stories and the others found them amusing, all except Talven and Reion who handed several long pieces of scroll into the Official's hands.

"Mister Bunansa…"

"Balthier…please."

"Balthier…it appears that you have several outstanding warrants for your arrest all over Ivalice." The Landisian woman frowned, having to pull some spectacles from her robes to read the scroll. "You are wanted for the theft of several priceless paintings from an Archadian Art gallery…disturbing the peace and charges of assault in Nalbina; theft of jewellery, unpaid speeding tickets, use of a hover bike in pedestrian areas…drunk and disorderly…theft of numerous "wedding" gifts from a well respected and noble Dalmascan family…theft, more theft and ….well suffice to say the list does go on. I am not sure that I am comfortable in allowing someone with your character to take part in this ceremony, let alone be given such a prominent role as Anointer."

"Can I say one thing?" asked Balthier. The woman sighed and nodded. "The one where I am wanted for the robbing of the Archades Bank? That was not me…I was in bed at the time with the flu."

And the young brunette he had caught it from.

"That is hardly convincing." said the woman. "Captain Fon Ronsenberg…I am quite perplexed as to why you would choose this man…this pirate, as he described himself, to be a part of such a blessed occasion. I should have him ejected from this room, or call the guards."

"Then you should do the same to me." Fran said. "For I was a participant in some of those."

"Indeed?" The woman rose an eyebrow, not look happy at all. "This is most vexing."

"Madam…" Basch finally tore his gaze away from Ashe and looked towards her and Balthier. "Yes, Balthier has done some…very well…a lot, of things that should warrant some jail sentence. But he is not a cruel or evil man…he has never murdered or abused innocents, nor has he committed crimes of treason against any country of Ivalice. He calls himself a sky pirate and that he is, but I would not compare him to some of the more brutal ones that live in Balfonheim."

"That hurts, Basch." Balthier sneered.

"He has helped us in so many ways." Ashe continued. "Without his aid, his and Fran's support and…generosity…I would not be Queen. Without Balthier, there would be no Rabanastre and so many lives would have been lost. He has more than made up for his past discretions and he has….in part become our friend. Basch and I trust him implicitly and without question. We need him here."

"Are you trying to ruin my reputation?" hissed Balthier. Basch muttered for him to shut up and Balthier heard the growl in the older man's throat, thus subsequently kept his mouth closed.

"Very well…" the woman said. "It would be acceptable for now. However, would Your Majesty object to me requesting that after the ceremony, something will be done to compensate those he stole from?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way." said Ashe, smiling when Basch returned his gaze at her. Fran wasn't about to object like Balthier was, she had always thought, ever since she had first met him, that eventually they would get caught. Yet it had been exciting and fun.

Reion and Talven were angry that Balthier was allowed to continue, but they kept quiet and sat back in their seats at the top of the room when the Official stepped closer to the fire.

"Then let this commence." she said. She nodded to Balthier and Marlene, Nia stepping up to the pedestal nearest Ashe and picking up the vase. Balthier did likewise with the one near Basch, feeling the warmth of the ceramic against his flesh.

It was then it hit him. The smell…the heavy but floral scent just crept up his nostrils and made him swoon, for a pleasant arousing high buzzed not only in his head but all over his body. Looking down inside, he saw the Rhosyn oil, the rare and demanded oil ever sought after in Ivalice.

"Holy….." he kept his last words in as he grinned, the effects of the Rhosyn making everything swim around him. He was very horny, aroused and Balthier badly felt an urge. He quickly looked down and thanked the Landisians for designing such loose flowing clothes as he knew damned well that he was getting more than a little hard.

"You're not supposed to breathe it in!" hissed Marlene, keeping her vase away from her at arms length. "You fool!"

"It's all right Nia, darling." Balthier winked and put on his most seductive expression he could muster. "I'm perfectly fine. Hey…if these two love birds aren't allowed to do it, would you accept such a merry rumpus with a dashing gentleman….meaning me?"

"Silence Anointers!" The Landisian woman snapped. "You are not permitted to speak!"

Balthier mouthed a sheepish "sorry" and went to stand next to Basch. He was a little confused when Marlene stood glaring at him, as if he was standing her spot.

"You are supposed to be over by Ashelia." Basch whispered, seeing the threatening and angry glare from the Official. Balthier realised his mistake and promptly walked round the fire and stood next to the Queen, who he noticed had balled her hands into fists and looked more incensed at him than the Official did. Fran had never seen her "partner" acting so undignified like this. It must be the effects of the Rhosyn, a clear intoxicating effect on humes, but not to anyone else. Viera, Bangaa, Seeq, Moogles and other races didn't react like this to Rhosyn…it was a mystery why.

"With the exceptions of the Family members, Anointers and the Watchers, I must ask the rest of you to leave. You will not be present in here unless called upon." The Official gestured with a long bony hand up at the exit. The others did look a little perplexed, Larsa actually appeared upset that he wouldn't be seeing the beginning of the ceremony, but then again, what use would he be just hanging around?

"What are we supposed to do, whilst we wait?" asked Penelo as she climbed up the stairs with him. "Just hang around and twiddle our thumbs?"

"I have a few books you might be interested in reading." said Larsa, smiling softly.

"That would be wonderful, Larsa. Thank you. Though I must admit, I am jealous that Vaan gets to stay."

Larsa was too, but when he peered over his shoulder and caught Vaan's gaze, it seemed that the eldest of the three friends wished he could have swapped with someone.

"The Anointing." The Landisian woman held out her hands. "It is just the beginning, the test of restraint and of trust in the other. The oil from the Rhosyn has been used for centuries in our ways and has proven to tax a couple to their very limits. May Ashelia and Basch keep faith in their trust and fight the urges that will arise; may you both prove that another's touch will not anger you nor cause resentment; you will be strong and you will be true."

She bowed and muttered some phrases in the Landisian tongue, to which Fran noticed Basch mouthing along with her. It sounded like a prayer, but she could not understand the words. Then, to her shock, even though she knew it was going to happen, both Basch and Ashe took off their robes.

"Holy hells!"

Everyone knew that this ceremony entailed the couple to be naked, but seeing both the Queen of Dalmasca and her Knight completely nude was still a shock. Garner put his hand over his eyes whilst repeating his Knightly vows under his breath. To see his sovereign in such a bare display was not part of his duties.

Fran was disturbed at seeing Basch's body again, for his male "appendage" just looked awkward somehow. She certainly didn't like the look of his large protrusion between his legs; it appeared extremely unnatural, not to mention that it would be greatly impractical. How could he walk without that thing getting in the way of his legs? She shuddered once again as her hand grabbed hold of one of her ears and began to stroke at it, hoping the feel of her velvet fur would calm her somewhat.

Ashe however looked radiant. Her skin had a glistening sheen to it almost as if she was glowing and Fran remembered that it was just due to the pregnancy, the throwing up and hormone changes. The female body wasn't that much different to a Viera's…the breasts were the same; obviously they had indeed swollen and enlarged somewhat, but they were there for giving the nutrition to Ashe's young when they arrived. But once again, between the legs…instead of just smooth bare skin, Fran's eyes widened…it was so small. A baby was supposed to come out of that? More than one? That was not possible!

She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to stand this. Humes naked…Humes she knew and were friends with, was not a pleasing sight for the eyes.

Ashe and Basch were not in the slightest bit phased by putting themselves on show. Fran watched as their eyes longingly caressed over each other's bodies, wishing that their hands could do so instead. The Viera read the mouthed words from Basch's lips, asking Ashe if she was alright. Her gentle nod made her bosom gently wobble and Fran heard the exasperated moan from next to her.

"Am I supposed to put this…on her?" Balthier hissed right into Fran's ear and gestured to the Rhosyn in the vase.

"You are supposed to massage it on to her…yes."

"This is not fair play." Balthier hung his head in shame. "Why now? Why, when Ashe is pregnant and getting wed to Basch, do I have to do this? I am supposed to massage the most sensual and arousing oil all over a naked yet completely forbidden woman? What absolute rotten luck!"

"Balthier! Quiet!" Ashe snapped, her beautiful face scowling with anger.

He never protested further when he peered over the fire to Marlene.

The Archadian woman dipped both her hands into the vase and brought them back up, keeping them away from her face. She then knelt down behind Basch, before planting her hands lightly on his bare shoulders. She began to rub.

Already it was torture. Ashe watched as Marlene coated the Rhosyn over her Basch, her fingers kneading into his shoulders and slipping across the muscles of his arms and down his back. The fury and anger surged at the sight of another woman touching him; it boiled as Nia sensually coiled her oily fingers over his neck and chest. Ashe wanted to scream and pull Marlene away from him, she wanted and needed to be the one to do this for Basch…she craved for her hands to stroke every contour of his face and his body, but she knew that if she moved or made any attempt to cross over to him…it would be ruined.

Ashe felt a nauseous stirring within her stomach; she was going to be sick. She closed her eyes and willed it and the vision of Basch dripping with warm oil from her mind. It didn't work, for when she opened them again, she could only see Marlene slather her Basch and hear his groans as the oil began to affect him. Tense was not the right word for how she was feeling. She was in absolute agony and the young hormonal Queen knew that any minute she would cause a ruckus. She was going to scream and probably dish out some physical injury to someone.

Thankfully she was stopped when a pair of warm slick hands began to massage, very nervously, at her shoulders. Ashe looked round and saw Balthier kneeling behind her, grinning like a school boy.

"If only this were under different circumstances." he uttered, giving her a dashing wink.

Fran who had heard, waited for the sound of Ashe's fist impacting hard with the sky pirate's face, but they were more than surprised when Ashe smiled.

"Ssshhh….you are not suppose to talk to me." she said. "I would suggest you follow that rule lest you want me to rip off your…."

Balthier clamped his mouth shut and proceeded to massage the Queen. She eventually relaxed, finding herself quite pleased that Balthier's massaging was making her feel good. But when the aroma of the Rhosyn became stronger, more and more being plied onto her skin, the effects of it were astounding.

It was the same sensation she had whenever Basch was around her, or whenever he touched or spoke to her. All the world around her vanished; her tension disappeared to be replaced by an intense warmth coiling up within her stomach and between her legs, she felt a seeping pulsing excitement that only Basch could invoke. As she looked at him, catching the equally lusting stare he was giving back, she saw that Basch was lost in a trance of his own.

His mouth was open, his tongue licked at the sweat dripping over his lips as his eyes drank in her nakedness; he gazed at every part of her, wanting and yearning. Yet Ashe could see he was having problems. Whenever Balthier's hand snaked across her belly, there was a flash in his eyes, Basch was hating having that man touch her. Ashe didn't like him touching her either, even if his massaging hands were doing wonders for the tensing knots in her shoulders and back. Basch was scrutinizing everything Balthier was doing, watching for signs of inappropriate groping rather than "anointing." He growled deep when her breasts were touched by Balthier's hands and not his own; he leered as the pirate curved his fingers over her legs and thighs, but this was just part of the test. That was what the Rhosyn and the nudity was for. And of course, Balthier's being assigned for this duty was to pressurize him.

For a man who had endured torture and captivity, this would have thought to have been easy. It was the exact opposite, Ashe could tell. He was having much more difficulty than she was.

Ashe had chosen Marlene, not just because she was a friend of Balthier's. But because if Fran or indeed Penelo had this role, they would be embarrassed. Basch was like an uncle to Penelo and Fran just didn't hold the sexual threat needed. So Marlene, with her fire red hair, intense green eyes and beautiful curvy figure was chosen to be Basch's anointer. Ashe was suddenly pleased that she had, for the Archadian woman was now looking extremely professional in her role. Despite the fact that her hands were all over Basch, touching every inch of him, she appeared detached and unburdened by performing this duty on the Queen's "man." She continued to coat him, oil him up; Basch holding his arms out for her or rising up from his knees so she could reach his more intimate areas, but she was never embarrassed nor was she looking at him with any kind of lust or sexual feeling. She was completely disinterested in the magnificence of his body. Which was hard to believe. How could any woman not find Basch naked, an attractive sight? Was something wrong with him?

Now Ashe felt angry that she wasn't groping him or drooling over him. Damned her hormones and crazy mixed up feelings. Damned the scent of these oils driving her insane.

She breathed a sigh of relief, when Marlene got up from the floor after a long hour and placed the vase back onto the pedestal. She bowed respectfully to the couple and to the others and when the Official gave her a nod, Nia then walked up the stairs to the exits and left. Balthier wasn't that long behind and he left at a startling speed, muttering under his breath.

Now, all the people that remained were Garner, Ondore, Vaan and Fran and the Official. The Landis woman hadn't said anything, keeping silent as she sat on her cushion by the far wall, yet her dark blue eyes were watching everything, with keen interest. Fran thought it was creepy that any of them had to watch this. It was indeed a private thing for them, (by the gods, she wished it could have been kept as such) but if their love was to be proved…someone had to do it.

"Are you all right, Ashelia?" Basch spoke up through the silence, struggling through his own endurance to keep restrained. "This is not too…strange for you?"

Ashe's slick oiled face looked deep into the fire, lost for a while at the sight of the dancing flames and the feel of the heat.

"To be touched by someone else, that's not you?" she said after a prolonged silence. Her hand lightly stroked at her neck. "To see someone else touching you? It's not strange at all, Basch. It's perfectly normal."

"I…"

"Sarcasm! I was being sarcastic." Ashe smiled lightly, provoking Basch to produce a small one of his own, though Fran noticed the sadness behind them. "I'm not feeling wonderful, Basch. On one hand I want to wring someone's neck, I want to fight, release this aggression that's swelling up inside of me. I want to cry, I want to scream…my whole body is just a mixture of insane changes. I want to be sick, I want to laugh…I don't know what else, but all I know is I badly want to kiss you, Basch. More than anything, I am feeling so high my head is spinning! This bloody oil has finally sent me crazy! I want to make love to you, I want to feel your hands and your lips touching me and I can't! It's frustrating and annoying! Whose stupid idea was this?"

"Erm….I would not like to say, my lady…"

"Don't patronize me! I know it was my idea, but I did not mean this, us and now!" Ashe ran her oily hands through her hair struggling so hard to temper the rage building inside. "Which one of your people thought it would be a good idea to put couples through this? It's painful and it's a form of torture! I need to feel you on me, in me and I want to scream for you like a few nights ago! But I can't! Instead I have to be as pent up and chaste as a damned Kilitas priest! I'm like a child that has candy just out of reach! My lips are salivating Basch! And I'm not talking about my mouth!"

Basch's eyebrows rose in surprise, a tiny smile curling at the corner of his lips. For a brief second he felt the urge to get up and test to see if it was true. His fingers stroked against his thumb, his tongue licked against his lips and he had to withhold a long deep moan as his imagination went wild once more. The memories of that first night in Giza, the textures of her beneath his hands, the sweet flavours of her in his mouth…dammit, Ashe wasn't the only one who was aching.

From next to him, Basch heard a "la la la la I'm not listening" and when he turned, he noticed that Vaan had his hands clamped over his ears and his eyes tightly clenched shut. The Official tapped the young man on the shoulder. Vaan looked terrified, but Basch heard her explain that he had to watch and listen to everything.

"Oh that's not fair." Vaan uttered, spluttering between words. "This is their personal and private...things."

He never protested again when he found out that he had no choice. Neither did Fran, who was equally worried about hearing her friend's most intimate of intimates. She stayed kneeled by Ashe's right, her ears curled up but it did little to tune out the couple's conversation. Humes and their ridiculous urges, humes and their bodily functions. It wasn't natural to her.

"Ashelia…this ceremony has been done in Landis for hundreds of years. It is not just a declaration of love or exchanging of vows, it is…"

"A test…I know! You keep telling me, but that doesn't change how damned difficult it is! The Rhosyn is only aggravating things more."

"It isn't supposed to be easy, Ashe. This test is supposed to be difficult and…"

"Basch, I'm not going to do anything…this is far too important for both of us, but you did ask, you asked if I was alright and I'm telling you! I'm not! I need you."

"As I do you…but we're strong. We'll get through this." Basch smiled softly towards her. "Why don't we talk about something else, to keep our minds off our…needs."

"That's a good idea." Ashe bobbed her head in agreement and settled into a more comfortable position on the floor. For a moment, there was silence except for the crackling of the fire as Ashe pondered as to whether she should tell him about the babies; but such a revelation now would be too much. Hearing that there wasn't just one baby would make him ecstatic. She would want to hold him, have him stroke her belly where inside their children were growing, but she wouldn't be able to restrain herself so she decided to bring out a different subject. "So how did the bachelor party go?"

"Ah…"

There was a nervous cough from Vaan and when Ashe turned her head to look at him, the young man had his head tilted up at the ceiling and he was pretending to count the thousands of floating lights above him. He looked suspicious, he was hiding something. When she looked back to Basch, his hands were nervously fiddling with some of the cushions nestled around him.

"Something happened. Didn't it?" she hissed. "What happened at the party, Basch?"

"Nothing, my queen." he said, not terribly convincingly. "There was a lot of a drinking. I got drunk."

"I'm not surprised." She waved a hand. "Continue…"

"There were some sparring competitions…lots of food….someone was sick…there was some lovely music; I believe Idris had hired the little band that often play in the Southern Plaza on the ending days of the week…I reminisced with my old friends…there was lots of food."

"Basch…there was a stripper, wasn't there?"

"Ah…I…er…"

"Basch….there was a woman who danced and took off her clothes….for you…..wasn't there?"

"I…er…"

"Basch! You don't lie very well! I can see on your face that I'm right! You've gone into stammering mode and you can't look at me! So I know there was a stripper there!"

"There was. Aye."

"And she danced and stripped for you, didn't she?"

"I was pinned to a chair whilst she…aye…she did."

"Did you enjoy it? Hmmm? Did you like having this naked woman cavort all over you?"

"NO! Not at all!"

"It's true, Ashe." Vaan jumped to Basch's defence. "He had his eyes closed the whole time. He was also fidgeting and squirming like a little kid who had to eat his greens! He hated it."

Ashe smiled and chuckled into her hand.

"I know he did." Ashe bit on her bottom lip. "There was no need to be worried, Basch. I have a feeling that Balthier was behind it all. I wouldn't even be surprised that he woke up with her in his bed the next day."

"I think he did." said Basch, grinning as the relief washed over him like a breath of fresh air. He had been ridiculous, why did he think that Ashe would hate him for having a stripper at his party. She trusted him with her life and her heart as he did with her. No stripper, not even a Lady of the Rozzarian ruling family would sway him from his Queen.

"You have nothing to worry about, Basch." she said stroking her hands across her belly. "Most bachelor parties do tend to have their own little traditions.

"Ashe I…."

"If you apologise again, I'll..." Ashe couldn't help but smile as so many "threats" came to her mind. "You say sorry far too much!"

"I have a lot to say sorry for."

"No. You don't." Ashe shook her head. "I know you don't. So…enough! What else happened?"

"I do not remember much. There was a lot of drinking."

"Glad you had so much fun." Her arms folded across her chest and there was a stern expression on her face. Basch looked worried, for that stern cold look was not one of pretence or foolery. "Drinking a lot does not become you."

"I do not do it often."

"Nor does he often wake up tied up in a Chocobo stables naked."

The snort of laughter wasn't exactly lady like coming from Ashe, Fran noted. But then Vaan's exclamation had been rather sudden. The Official herself even tried to cover up a snigger with a cough. She gave Vaan a stern look, no doubt for him breaking the rules of "speaking" again, but she couldn't' keep a straight face.

"Oh Basch!" Ashe was trying hard to control her laughter. "Oh now how did that happen? No don't tell me! It was Idris, wasn't it? He finally got you back for what you did to him at his wedding, did he not?"

Ashe flicked her glance over to where Garner was still respectfully sheltering his eyes. The Captain of the Order shook his head, not wanting to take the blame, even though at the time he had wished it had been him that left Basch in amongst the Chocobos.

Next to the penitent Garner, Ondore was smiling pleasantly as he sat in amongst numerous cushions. He was strangely unperturbed by his nieces' nakedness and that of Fon Ronsenberg; in fact, there wasn't a sign of distress or embarrassment upon his aging face. Fran didn't understand why. Surely he must have been a little taken back by her very sexual declaration to Basch. Why was he even humming?

"It was Balthier's doing." said Basch, wincing slightly as he had to shift his position. Fran thought it would be best to focus on the Queen rather than the bulking and very "tense" hume male, because he was…it…was very distracting. .

Ashe seemed a lot more comfortable now, talking about something was helping her but Fran could still see the twitches in her fingers and she noticed that she occasionally rose up as if to go over to him. Basch almost faltered as much as she did, nearly throwing caution to the wind and going over to her.

"You did make him your "best man…so you should expect such consequences." said Ashe smiling softly, touching her oil slickened cheek with her hand. "Though I should make good on my promise to him and make him suffer for putting you through it."

"Vaan was naked too!"

The look of utter shock on everyone's faces at Basch's outburst couldn't even come close to the horrified expression upon the knight's own. His hand clapped over his mouth and Kytes' phrase of "Holy Crappers" sounded in his head. What had he just said?

"Basch? Is there something you have neglected to tell me?" asked Ashe, looking from her betrothed to the young man who, along with Garner, had his hands over his eyes and ears and was humming "La la la la…I didn't hear him say that…la la la la!" quite loudly.

"Balthier chained not only myself naked to the Chocobo stables, but Vaan was there as well." Basch said, bowing his head in even more shame. "on different sides of the stables, of course…we weren't close or…touching….I erm…Lord Sarvani found us and thankfully got us out…Ashe…"

He was going to apologise again, but the laughter from his Queen prevented the words from coming out. It was an immense relief to see her laughing at this, rather than becoming angry, but her laughter only made him crave her more.

When his Queen smiled, it made the burdens and pains of his past seem lighter within; when she laughed, they appeared non-existent. It was an old life, one he missed immensely but he was starting a new one. He was finally going to become a father and husband and nothing else mattered. Everything he had endured was worth it, because there is never anything bad about bringing a child into the world.

"My poor dearest Basch." Ashe finally managed to stop laughing, but it was still sparkling in her eyes. "I should not torment you any further…you have had more than your fair share."

"You cannot comply with your own words, my love." Basch responded, shyly. "For your current state…you are tormenting me with your mere presence."

"In a good way….yes?" she whispered over the flames.

"In a very good way."

The couple smiled at each other and Fran saw once again their eyes lock together. This was definitely love; there couldn't be any other way to describe the way they looked at each other. Fran was still wholly confused by Hume emotions, but this was pure devotion and love that not even a Viera's connection the wood could come close. The room was silent now, except from the crackling of the fire, for Ashe and her Knight lost all need to talk. Their eyes, the subtle ways they touched at their own arms or face, every slight expression or movement spoke volumes of what they were feeling inside.

Fran actually thought, were Humes bonded in such a telepathic manner? Could they be speaking even now without everyone's knowledge? It was possible, for some species in Ivalice, especially the Leynir, did develop such abilities. Is this is what they were doing?

Fascinating.

Then of course, Fran began to wonder about the unborn babies inside of Ashe. Did a mother have a telepathic bond with her offspring as well? Would Ashe be able to hear the thought processes of developing life? The Viera all felt the presence and connection of the Wood upon their first moments of sentience and Fran knew that a mental connection between the Dream Hares (a doe and kitten) is also established early on. Perhaps the same is for humes? Though none of Penelo's books had said anything about the matter.

Realising she had let her mind wonder, Fran focused back on her duty. She was to watch Ashe, make sure she didn't act on all the feelings she was no doubt feeling. Yet she needn't have worried.

For the next five long gruelling hours, Basch and Ashe continued to stare at each other with that never diminishing lust and love in their eyes.

Not even when Penelo and Larsa came in to bring them drinks, did they break away. It was quite unnerving. To her anyway; Vaan just yawned a couple of times as well as coughing in hopes to get them talking again. Both Penelo and Larsa had been quite startled at what they saw, yet once she got over her embarrassment, Penelo became concerned about Garner; who was still refusing to take his hands away from his eyes.

Eventually, Maya came in to make sure he was all right. Then the old hume woman brought herself up to Ashe's side and discreetly conducted her scans. Fran tried to look at the readout on the little piece of equipment but she couldn't make out the results. The old woman noticed Fran's inquisitive stare and just chuckled to herself.

"Majesty…the scans are complete. Everything is fine, just as before."

Then there was the slip, that Ashe had been hoping she wouldn't let loose.

"The babies are well?"

The intense long gaze that had been unbreakable between the couple suddenly snapped. Basch's eyes widened and he nearly fell back as he gasped for breath.

"BAY...BIES?" He choked. "As….as…more than one?"

Fran saw Ashe mentally chastise herself, she frustratingly ran her hands over her face than then looked at him with a hopeful yet sad gaze.

"We…we are having more than one, Basch. Yes."

"I….I….how….how…?"

Fran was just about to recite the facts she had read from Penelo's book, about how multiple births occurred, but Penelo just handed the Viera a tall glass of juice and shook her head.

"How many?" Ashe began to slowly rise but Penelo had to lay a hand on her shoulder to prevent her from getting up. "Dair."

"Dair?" Basch held out his hand, hoping for some kind of support. He latched on Larsa's arm and uttered a babble of "dair" again and again. He was to confused and he vaguely heard the young Emperor ask what dair meant. Basch had difficulty with it registering in his own head. He stammered even more, gasping and spluttering as he drank the water Larsa gave him. Most of spilled down over his shaking body until Larsa took some of his weight into his arms. Basch stopped shaking when he saw the tears swelling up in Ashelia's face. His reaction was upsetting her and he hated it.

Fran watched him as he nodded his thanks to Larsa, but he still remained nervously silent. Each second that past by, each second that he did not say a thing to this new piece of news only made Ashe more and more anxious and worried.

"Well?" asked Vaan, breaking the tension in the room a little. "What does dair mean?"

"Three." Basch said, gazing resolutely into his future wife's eyes. "Three, Vaan. We're going to have three wonderful..children."

"Oh." Vaan scratched at his head, unsure of how to react. "That's nice."

"Aye, my friend." Basch grinned widely. "It's wonderful."

Ashelia let out a heavy relieved sigh and her tears began to fall down her smiling face.

But that didn't change the fact that they were still unable to touch.

At least, not yet.