******Slight Spoilers******

I feel that its only fair to warn you that there will be a few game spoilers included in this chapter. But hopefully by time you have read up to this point, you have already completed Chapter 5 in the game play. If not, it might be a bit confusing. But it will make sense once you have.

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AFTER putting the luggage in the car, Paul and Korn started walked over to the light keepers house. The air was hot now as the sun was high in the sky as it shined down brightly from the clear blue sky. The only comfort was the occasional breeze that would blow across the rocks as it came up from the ocean. Paul slightly smiled when he looked up at the lighthouse as he made his way to the house. Then he looked over at the porch on the house.

........"How long will you be gone this time?" Lynn had asked in a sad tone as she stood on the porch.

"I'm not sure darling." He had said before he gently moved her hair behind her ear.

"But don't worry." He had told her as he gazed into her beautiful eyes. "I'll be back before you have a chance to miss me."

"Too late." Lynn had said to him before she pulled him in for a full embrace as she placed her lips on his...........

"This place has been abandoned for a few years now." Korn said out loud which jarred Paul out of his memory.

Korn was walking just a few feet ahead of him as they got closer to the house.

"But rest assured. I'm sure no one will look for your boat here." Korn said as he stopped on the porch by the door as he looked around for the hidden key.

"We probably should've destroyed this place a long time ago." Korn said while he walked around the porch as he looked, with the deck creaking under his feet.

"Well I for one, am glad we still have this old place." Paul said as he picked up the lid from the first barrel on the right of the porch.

"It was always one of my favorite places for us to train at." Paul continued as he flipped over the lid to reveal a key that was attached with a metal clasp.

Korn heard the sound of the key and turned around just in time to see him undo the clasp and removed the key before replacing the lid back on the barrel. Then Paul walked over to the door and unlocked it. Korn looked at him and smiled as his shook his head.

That was one of the things that he liked about Paul. The man never forgot a single detail about any of their hideouts. For only he would remember where the key was after fifteen years.

"Why this place, of all locations?" Korn asked as he followed Paul through the door and into the large common area of the house.

"Well," Paul started to say as he walked over to the kitchen area and started going through the cupboards, "this was the best place to work on our fighting techniques. With the unpredictable weather and the harsh terrane, it was ideal for helping us focus on controlling our magic spells as we casted them or especially as we threw them."

"We would go from fighting on the beach, to battling with the wind and uneven rocks." He said as he continued to search, until he paused as he pulled out a bottle of rum and two glasses from the cabinet by the refrigerator.

"Then when we were done, we would drink late into the night as we would talk about our different missions." Paul said as he turned around.

"Those nights seemed to last forever." Paul said as he looked at the glasses and realized that they were covered in dust. So he walked over to the sink and rinsed out the glasses.

"Not when I was here, you didn't." Korn said in a stern voice as he took a seat on one of the wooden chairs that surrounded the large dining room table that sat in the middle of the room.

"Of course not." Paul said as he picked up the, now clean glasses and bottle of rum before he walked over to the table.

"You hated us being up late. It was always 'lights out at dusk' with you." Paul said as he set one glass in front of Korn and the other in front of himself.

"It's always best to sleep when you can." Korn added as he leaned back in the chair. "That's one of the first lessons we teach. Besides, a light on at night is a great way to give away your position."

"Tst. Then what do you call getting us up before the sun had even peeked over the water?" Paul asked as he filled both glasses half way.

"Most people function better in the morning. And the best offensive attack is done right at the crack of dawn. Besides, staying up all night only tends to wear one out. That and I've never seen the point of drinking until you couldn't stand anymore." Korn said as he picked up the glass and looked at the dark brown liquid as he turned the glass around in his hand.

"Well, I can see your point.  But we weren't in any real danger here. So a drink or two was fine.  Especially when we could celebrate a hard fought victory." Paul said as he sat down and picked up his glass and did a quick salute before he took a quick drink.

"Where other times it was to vent about a sour defeat." He said as he gritted his teeth from the hard spice in the rum.

"Then there were times when we just drank to forget."  Paul quietly said as he stared at the glass for a moment, before he took a deep drink and drained the glass.

Korn glanced over at Paul with a concerned look as he watched Paul pour himself another drink. He knew that Paul was still struggling with the loss of Lynn. And who could blame him. It's not easy watching someone being killed right in front of you.  Especially when they were not only your own partner, but also your soulmate.

"Did you know that Lynn use to wait here for me to come back from my trips?" Paul asked as he swirled the fluid around in his glass as he talked.

"I would always see her on the pier as I pulled the boat in. I look back on it now and it seems like I spent more time away from her then I did with her." He said before he took a drink.

"Our jobs do tend to take us away a lot don't they." Korn said as he took a sip from him glass.

Then he quickly put it down after tasting the bitter bite of the spicy brown rum.

"Yeah." Paul quietly responded as he took another drink.

"You know when I look back on it now. I wish that I had taken her with me more often. She knew how to fight with the best of them and had the most brilliant mind I've ever known." He said as if in a daze.

Then he dropped his head.

"She was a brilliant agent. And a good friend." Korn added as he watched Paul's actions carefully. "And she left behind a brilliant daughter and strong husband to protect her daughter."

"You got part of that right." Paul said then he took a long drink.

"Our daughter is brilliant." He finished as he drained the glass again.

"I'll let you in on a little secret." Paul started as he filled his glass again. "(y/n) was conceived in the bedroom upstairs."

Korn gave him a surprised look then looked at the upstairs bedroom door.

"But don't ever tell her or she'll never want to train here. She always gets 'weirded out' when she learns things like that." Paul said as he shook his hands in the air for affect before he dropped them back down again.

Korn looked back at Paul in shock. But when he saw that Paul wasn't really paying attention to anything anymore as he became lost in thought. He knew then, to just let it go. But it didn't keep him from searching Paul's face with concern as his boss, and as his friend. He had never seen him like this before. And he was starting to get worried about how Paul was going to react when he walked back into the family home.

For neither Paul nor you had been in the house since that day your whole world was turned on its head. Not even after the everyone had arrived safe and sound in Insomnia. The king had insisted that the two of you stay at the citadel for your own safety. Then right after your mom's funeral, the two of you left and went to stay in Altissia for a while.

Korn made a mental note that he would keep a close eye on Paul for the next few months to make sure that he was adjusting alright. For Paul insisted on going to the house by himself. But perhaps it would be best if he had some company. Korn knew that grief could cause sane people to do things that they normally would never consider.

The two of you were smiling as you made your way to entrance of the lighthouse. But then your heart dropped again as you looked at the path to get down.  Ignis also stopped and glanced around. He could see why you were having such a hard time trying to figure out a safe path down from the lighthouse while wearing your heels.  Because even he couldn't find a good direction to go that wouldn't cause an issue.

"Perhaps it would be best if I carried you down." He said as he looked back at you as you stood on the rickety stone stairs.

You smiled at him. "Now that would be suicide for both of us. There are too many rocks to be carried across."

"Then what do you suggest?" He said as he was now at a loss for a solution.

"How about something much simpler."  You said as you leaned on the railing so that you could take off your shoes, "I'll just walk barefoot."

You removed your left shoe and placed your foot on the soft grass.

"But what about the rocks?" Ignis asked as he gazed at your legs as you carefully put your foot back on the ground. 

He felt his fingers start to tingle as he thought about how soft that they looked like.

"Well, I'll just have to walk over them."  You said as you got your right shoe off.  "They might hurt a bit.  But at least this way I can walk flat on the grass and not lose my footing due to my heels sinking in the dirt."

You finished as you stood back up with your shoes in one hand and a smile on your face. "Okay.  Let's do this."

Ignis shook his head as he smiled at you. He loved how you could always come up with a solution. Even if it wasn't always ideal.  You then slowly started making your way down the hill by staying in the grass. He walked close by you so that he could help you over the rocks as you moved from one soft spot to another.

"Are you sure that I shouldn't just carry you?"  He asked when you were about half way down, but completely surrounded by sharp jagged rocks.

"No, no I got this."  You said as you carefully placed your foot on the moss on one of the rocks and started to put your weight on your foot.

But right as you did, your foot slipped out from under you as the moss pulled away from the rock.  Ignis quickly scooped you up in his arms before you fell.  You quickly grabbed his neck as he lifted your feet off of the ground and pulled you into a tight bridal carry.  Then you both froze for a moment as he held you close to him again.

Then you slowly opened back up your eyes and look back at him.  He gave you a warm smile at first.  But then you noticed his eyes getting darker as he held you.  You searched his eyes as they turned into the dark pools of green that sent heated chills through your whole body.

"Thank you."  You softly replied as you started to get lost in his eyes.

"Don't thank me just yet.  We're not down yet"  He said as he turned and started carrying you the rest of the way down down the hill.

"But what if you fall?"  You asked as you watched his eyes as they looked this way and that as he walked down the rocky hill.

"I won't."  He simply replied without looking at you.

"But what if..?"  You further pressed as you continued to look at him.

"What if you relaxed and let me help you?"  Ignis asked as he finally looked at you and smiled again.

"I..."  You started to argue back when you realized that he was walking on a smooth surface again.

That was when you finally looked around you and saw that you had reached the house.  You quickly looked back up at Ignis as he smiled at you.  Then before you could argue, he walked you over to the porch and sat you down on the stone stoop in front of the stairs to the porch.  Once you steady on your feet again, you put your shoes back on. 

Ignis stood by you and watched as you strapped on your heels as you tried to look elegant again. Once your shoes were on, you looked back at Ignis.  You gave him a grateful smile as you held onto the railing to the porch.

"Can I thank you now?"  You said as you slightly teased him.

"You don't have to." Ignis replied as he grabbed your hand and slowly brought it up to his lips and kissed the top of your hand.  "I am always happy to help you."

The moment that his warm soft lips touched your skin, you immediately felt your cheeks heat up.  

"Oh..Okay."  You half gasped as you gave him a stunned look.

Then before you do anything else. you heard the door creek open behind you. Then you both quickly looked at the door as he released your hand and stood back up to his full height.

"Ah, perfect." Korn said as soon as he saw the two of you.  "It's time for us to headed back.  We need to be there before it gets dark."

"Understood." Ignis said in deep voice behind you.

"Okay.  But where's my dad? Is he alright?" You asked when you didn't see him right behind Korn.

"He will be." Korn tried to say with comfort. "Just give him a bit of time and patience over the next few days."

As Korn spoke, you looked behind him and into the house.  That's when you saw your dad start to walk towards the door. But then he paused and looked back up towards what you could assumed was the second floor. He stood there for a few minutes as if lost in thought. Then he ruggedly inhaled before he looked away and continued for the door.

"Is everyone ready?" Your dad asked in a rugged voice as he pulled the door close as he stepped out of the house.

Then you heard the click of the padlock before he turned back around and faced everyone.

"Yeah." Everyone said back to him.

"Good.  Let's head out then." Paul said then walked off of the porch and put the key back into its hiding spot.

You watched in wonder as he put the lid back on the barrel and walked away. You never would have thought to hide a key there. You smiled as you followed them down to the car.

There never seems to be an end to your secrets, dad.  You thought as you followed him to the car. I hope that one day you'll teach me at least half of them.

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The car ride back was quiet for the most part for you and Ignis. This was mainly due to Korn and Paul riding in the back seat so that they could talk. And since Ignis was driving, this left you to ride in the front seat as you headed back to Insomnia.

You kept glancing over at Ignis as you could still feel hi lips on your hand. Your face then flushed as you remembered his strong arms and gently hands as he carried you down the hill.  His body had been warm and firm as he carried you with ease down the hill.  And it certainly reminded you that he had definitely changed since you last saw him.

"Once we get back to the citadel and get you two settled in, we can discuss the plans for tomorrow as we eat dinner." Korn was explaining from the back seat.

"Sounds good." Paul replied before he started asking about the current events that had been going on throughout the city in his absence.

You glanced over at Ignis and started to scan him again as you tried to picture what he might look like with his firm chest, strong back, and tight ass. Then you felt your pearl vibrate as you started to get worked up about the images now flying through your mind. You looked down as fought with yourself as your hands started to tingle with the sudden urge to touch him and find our for yourself.  You then closed your eyes tight and shook your head as you tried to stop the images from flying through your head.

Stop thinking like that!  Your shouted to yourself.  Ignis would never want anything like that from you.  And he never will!  He's only a friend.

Then you jumped as you felt a hand on yours. You looked up and saw Ignis' large hand covering yours. Then you turned your attention to him and saw him giving you a curious look. You quickly looked away again as you felt your cheeks start to heat up again.

He looked at you for a moment as he tried to see your eyes.  But the longer he looked, the brighter your cheeks became.  He slowly raised up one corner of his lips as he slowly started to understand what you might be thinking.  Which made him smile more as he looked back to the road.

A touch is all it takes to make her blush.  He thought.  She certainly have changed.

"Let's keep two hands on the wheel there Ignis." You heard Korn say from the back seat.

Korn's tone and words made you jump and quickly turn away from Ignis. You face felt like was on fire as your cheek were now glowing red.  Ignis gave you a glance as he put his hand back on the wheel.

"My apologies." Ignis said in a smooth tone and turned his full attention back to the road.

You tried to distract yourself by turning your attention to the scenery as the car flew down the road. Of course you had only seen a bit of it last time since you had only gone to the royal summer cottage when you first started your weapons training.  And it made you slightly relax as you remembered Noctis holding you tight as you both took a nap.

"Can we go past the summer cottage?" You asked as you turned around and faced your dad.

"Not today." Korn said. "But perhaps after Noctis gets back from his camping trip."

Your jaw hit the floor as you stared at Korn in shock.

Camping trip? Since when does Noctis like to go camping? You thought as you stared at Korn in disbelief.

Then, as if your dad read your mind.

"I didn't know that Noctis liked to go camping. When did this start?" Your dad asked as he gave Korn the same stare you were.

"Apparently ever since his Majesty said that he can go without him." Korn said as he slightly smiled. "The Prince has started to develop a bit of the typical teenage isolation from his dad I'm afraid. And apparently he wants more independence. Camping just happens to be one of those events that would require him to be away for a while. Of course the King can't leave the city for long periods of time. So the Prince is able to go on his own, for the most part. Gladio and Ignis are always with him of course. But that's mainly for protection."

Your glanced over at Ignis as the words started to sink in.

Ignis goes too? I can see Gladio, but Ignis? He hates getting dirty. And there's a lot of dirt in nature. You thought as you noticed that Ignis didn't seem to thrilled with the idea as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Would I be able to go?" You asked as you wanted to be able to help out both of them by being there this time.

The whole car went silent for a moment. Then they all seemed to get uncomfortable in their seats as they al shifted. You looked at each of them and they all looked away from you as if they were afraid you might catch their eye.

"Honey, I don't think that would be a good idea." Your dad said as he kept his head down.

You felt your heart slightly fall at his words.

"And why not?" You asked as you gave him curious look.

"Well, you know. They'll be out in the middle of nowhere." Your dad started to say.

"So?" You interjected.

"They have to sleep on the hard ground." Korn added.

"And?" You interjected again.

"And we will have to hunt for our own food." Ignis said as he slightly rolled his eyes.

"Like fishing?" You asked.

"That among other things." Ignis answered as he keep his eyes on the road.

"Okay." You replied nonchalantly.

"That all sounds like a fun challenge." You said with a slight smile as you searched their faces.

But they didn't seem to be to amused. You crossed your arms as you just looked at them as they all just looked away.

"I get the feeling that there is another reason why you don't want me there." You said in a quiet tone as you looked at them.

"Well.....you see...." Your dad started to say.

"It's simple.  Girls aren't allowed." Korn said in a blunt voice.

"What?  Are you serious?" You asked as you scanned their faces as you waited for the punch line.

"What their trying to say," Ignis started as he looked at them in the rear mirror before looking back at you, "is that the camping trips are only for the boys. None of the girls have been allowed to go."

You sat there for a few minutes as the words sank. Before you turned back around and faced the front of the car again as you felt your heart shatter. It hadn't been because of anything serious that you couldn't go, like what they had trying to make it out to be at first. No, it was simply because you're a girl.

What kinda bullshit is this?  You angrily though as you crossed your arms and sunk down into the seat.

"Honey, look it's nothing against you." Your dad started when he saw you get quite and turn away from everyone. "It's just...."

"Just drop it." You said in a short tone as you felt your temple start to rise.

"I get it. Just............. forget that I ever asked. Okay?" You said as you turned your attention to the scenery outside of the car as you tried to ignore all of them as your heart sank and the tears threaten to fall.

You bit your inner lip as you tried to keep it from quivering as you stared out the door. Even after all of this time and training, they still didn't see you as one of them. Now you were starting to wonder if they were actually going to let you be one of Noctis' real retainers or not. You started to feel your heart rate increase as you felt your frustration starting to build.

Fine. If they won't take me, I'll teach myself. You thought to yourself as you saw one of the camping havens go by.

I'll just have to prove to them that I can do the same things that they can. In fact, You thought angrily to yourself. I'll do it better. I'll do it all on my own and prove to them that I can.

Suddenly you felt a hand on your knee. But this time you didn't look over. Instead you moved your leg away from him as you turned more towards the door. You didn't want him touching anymore. Not if he thought the same as uncle.

Ignis felt his heart sink as you moved away from him. He knew that that wasn't going to settle well with you. He knew you better than that.  Of course he personally didn't have a problem with you going.  In fact for him, it would make the trip more worth wild in his opinion. 

Of course he would prefer to have you all to himself for a few days without the constant interference of everyone else around you. And to have you alone at a remote site, the thought was enough to raise his heart rate and make his mind start to figure out a way to make it happen.

"Aaah. There's the old Chocobo ranch." Your dad said as he spotted a big sign that seem to have a picture of a giant bird on it. "We'll have to bring everyone out here for a day. I hear that Wiz has a beginners class that he does when your first starting to learn how to ride his birds."

"That might not be a bad idea." Korn said as the car passed by the sign the lead down to the ranch that sat just off from the road. "Everyone should learn how to ride one in their lifetime."

You followed the sign and saw a few of the large birds as they stood around at the ranch. Ignis gave you a quick smile as you looked over him at the ranch as he drove past it. You gave him a half smile then turned back around in your seat. You weren't really mad at him, but it didn't mean that you weren't still upset about the camping thing.

https://youtu.be/YBk6kTTK6-0

You turned back to the other side of the car and watched the trees from the woods as they flew past the car. That was when you noticed the rocks way back in the woods, then as if in a dream, you saw Noctis approaching a glowing tree. Then as if watching a video, you saw a vision of Lunafreya and who you assume is Ramuh. Suddenly you jumped as you saw a flash of lightening strike a rock formation and crack it open. You jumped back and quickly looked around. But then you froze as you realized that you were still in the car.

"You alright?" You heard Ignis ask from beside you.

"Yeah." You quietly said as you sat back in your seat, as you shook your head.

You could feel your heart racing as you tried to figure out what that was. You had felt the electricity from the lightening after it had hit the rocks as if it had been in your hand again. You looked back down at your hand as you remembered how it had felt to have that power running through your fingers. There wasn't any there now since it seemed to have worn off since you escaped from Niflheim. But you could still feel the power and tingling sensation as it had run across your skin.

You hadn't told Noctis or Ignis about that and how you had used, what you considered, magic to help you and the others escape from Niflheim. And neither had your dad. You were both a bit afraid of how they might treat you here and in Altissia if they knew you could wield magic like that. You hated to hide it from Noctis, but you were more afraid of losing him, if he rejected you because of it.

"We'll need to stop for gas so that we can make it back." Ignis said back to his uncle as he spotted the gas station off to the left as you exited the forest area.

"Do what you will. But we're only stopping for gas." Korn answered from the back seat.

You looked over at Ignis as he smiled slightly at you before he headed to the gas station. Then as he approached station, he slowed down and pulled in and up to the pump. Then he got out and grabbed the gas card from Korn for the purchase. As you sat there in the car waiting, you happen to look around and that was when you looked over and saw the Disk of Cauthess.

https://youtu.be/bCVw1Ok84w0

The suddenly your head started throbbing and your vision seen to go again as you were once again looking at Noctis as if watching a movie. He seemed to be talking to another god. This one had also talked to Lunafreya as you saw his vision again. Then the whole meteor seemed to explode as it destroyed everything around it.

Then as soon as it started it, was gone again as you vision returned as you stared straight at the Disk of Cauthess. Your heart was trying to beat out of your chest as you sat there clutching the seat and door. You shook your head as you tried to shake off the sensation. But the shockwave seemed to want to stay with you this time.

"Are you sure your alright?" You heard Ignis ask as he stared at you from the other side of the car. "You look awfully pale."

"What's wrong kiddo?" You heard your dad ask as he sat up and looked at you.

"I'm fine." You said in a steadier voice then you felt, as you looked away from them.

For your heart felt like it was going to break your rib cage.

"I just need a drink." You said as you got out of the car and proceed to walk to the store.

"I'll be right back." You heard your dad say as you heard the car back door open. "Do you want anything?......You sure?...."

You walked into the store before you heard any responses. You really weren't thirsty or anything. You just needed to walk away for a moment and collect your thoughts.

You hadn't told any of them about the visions that you have had.  Not the ones at the citadel nor these. They would think that your nuts if you told them anything about these.  Hell, you barely believed them.

There was only one person who seemed to be nervous about them, and that was King Regis when you had one in the throne room. He seemed to know that you had found out something. But even he had never mentioned anything about it. So neither had you. And you didn't plan to until you figured them out for yourself.

"Hey." Your dad said as he walked up to you and put his hand on your back as you absently looked at one of the shelves. "Are you alright? Your not still sore about the camping thing are you?"

"No." You said as you kept your head down. "I'm fine. I just needed to walk around a bit I guess."

"Well how about a drink then? You look like you could use a water." Your dad asked as he looked at you with concern.

"Sure." You stated as you half smiled at him.

Then after paying for a water, you and your dad walked back out to the car. Ignis watched you carefully as you got back into the car. You knew that he was trying to read you. So you kept your head down as you got back in and put your seatbelt on.

He tried to put his hand in your knee as he tried to get you to look at him. You did a quick smile at him then took a drink. He removed his hand as he gave you a quick smile back.  Then he put the car in gear and pulled back towards the road. Then he pulled back into the highway and headed towards Insomnia once again.

******Author Note******

Throughout my life I have had to prove several times to people and mainly myself that I can do anything that I really put my heart into. This included me serving in the US Navy and as well being a single parent for 8 years. Many people thought that I couldn't do it and that I was crazy for serving the government. 

But I tell you what, not once do I regret any of my decisions. For each of them have made me a better person for it. Even if the general male population thought that females shouldn't be on ships and can't do half the things that males can. Well I beg to differ.

I do hope that you have enjoyed this chapter and will come back to see all of the changes that had taken place over the past 3 years.

Thanks for reading. :)

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