The sun begins to set over Camp Dragonhead, and a pastel-pink-haired boy holds out a flower to his mother.
“What is this?” She grins, plucking it from his fingers and tucking it into her hair.
“Daddy picked it.” The boy turns to look at his father, tying up his chocobo. “It’s a rose.”
Grin widening, “Did he, now?” She makes eye contact with the silver-haired man before raising an eyebrow. “What about the mountain of paperwork on your desk from this morning?”
“How many opportunities will I have to pick roses for my wife with my son in unseasonably beautiful Coerthan weather?” He pouts, and she sighs.
“You are lucky this camp survives you.” She steps forward, wrapping her arms around his waist. He runs his fingers through pink hair and chuckles in response to her teasing. After a few moments, he pulls away.
“I’m afraid the time has come for me to go.” Haurchefant smiles apologetically, putting his hand on her shoulder. The sky turns dark all at once.
“No… please, you can’t leave us,” Zoisite begs, covering his hand with hers and clutching it desperately. “You can’t leave me. I can’t do this without you. Just another day more…” The child, equally distraught, wraps his arms around her leg and squeezes before Zoisite bursts into tears.
“Now, what did I say?” Haurchefant reaches out, gently nudging her chin upwards until she’s looking up at him.
Zoisite smiles weakly, A smile better suits a hero.
When she blinks, he’s gone.
She stands across from the boy, an adult now, in Borel Manor, his brows furrowed with anger.
“You’re not my mother, not really.” He spits, and she nods, accepting the lecture.
“You’re right,” She agrees as she sniffles. “But I love you anyway. I always will. If you can’t forgive me, I understand…”
“I can hardly look at you, let alone forgive you.” He mumbles, turning to leave, before disappearing as his father did, in a blink.
Alphinaud holds her to his chest as she sobs. “I’m certain he can take care of himself, he will be back.”
“But what if he doesn’t?” Zoisite pulls away, face red with tears. “What if we-“
Feldspar awoke with a sob of his own, face soaked with tears. What was that?
