You sat there with your feet up on the chair as you held your knees to your chest as you rubbed the fabric of Ignis' warm-up jacket in between your fingers. You hadn't moved from that position since Korn had told everyone that they would have to run a few tests before they could be sure that he was alright. He informed everyone that so far it looked to be just a few scraps on his chest and side from the board itself. But they wanted to get a few x-rays just to make sure that there were no internal injuries and that nothing was broken. Korn had insisted that everyone go home and he would let everyone know when he was done.

This of course didn't work for you. Since you couldn't bear the idea of leaving him without seeing him first. But they said that you couldn't see him until he was in a regular room. Which meant that in the meantime, you had to wait in the waiting area. Which is what lead you to sitting in the same chair by the same window that you had sat in when your dad had been brought in. Even the same staff tried to get you to leave. Only to get the same answer from you. And that was a simple 'No thank you'. You didn't want to leave. Not until you saw him. And even then, they might have an issue getting you to leave.

You had no idea what time it was when Korn finally came out to talk to you as you sat with your dad in the waiting area. For everyone else had gone home for now. Leaving you and your dad by yourselves as you waited. You were glad that your dad understood why you couldn't leave.

He didn't say much as you sat there. Which was fine. You really didn't feel like talking at that moment either. So instead you both just sat there quietly with his arm across the back of your chair as he rubbed your shoulder and waited.

As soon as you saw Korn, you were on your feet and walking over to him. He gave you a relieved sigh and a slight smile. You could feel the heavy weight being taken off of your shoulders as you saw his smile. You knew that this meant that he was going to be okay.

"Thank you for waiting. Both of you. It really means a lot." Korn said with a smile as he stopped in front of both of you.

"How..." You started to ask, as you clutched Ignis' jacket in front of you.

"He's fine." Korn said as he placed a hand on your arm.

You deeply exhaled the breath that you had no idea you were holding.

"He bruised his two lower ribs and he scrapped up his chest and side pretty bad." Korn said as he dropped his hand.

"But other then that, he's fine." Korn said as he looked at Paul.

"That's good to hear." Paul said with a smile as he put his hand on Korn shoulder as he supported himself with his other hand as it clasped his cane.

Paul knew all too well how nerve racking it is to have to wait to see if someone you love is fine. Of course in Paul's case, the news hadn't been as favorable. Korn looked back at Paul and gave him a slight smile.

"Can we go see him?" You asked as you tightened your grip on Ignis' jacket.

"Once they have finished moving him, yes." Korn said as he smiled back at you.

"They are in the process of shifting him to a regular bed and room now. We should be able to see him in about half an hour." Korn said as he looked at his watch.

"That gives us just enough time to eat dinner before me meet him in his room." He continued as he looked at you and your dad.

"I'm not really hungry." You anxiously stated as you looked down.

"Oh no you don't." Your dad said as he looked at you. "Your going to eat this time young lady. They told me what you did when I was here. We will not have a repeat of that while I'm around."

"Fine." You said as you rolled your eyes and walked back over to your seat.

Then you reached down and grabbed Ignis' bag off of the floor. Prompto had grabbed Ignis' bag for him when he was packing his own up back at the pool. Prompto didn't want Ignis' stuff to be left behind. You slightly smiled to yourself as you remembered him handing over the bag. He had been nervous, but sweet.

He could tell that you were very concerned about Ignis and had tried to cheer you up. He had joked around about how Ignis' was probable telling the doctor's what was wrong and what needed to be done to solve the problem. His jest was there and made you slightly smile. Even though it disappeared right after they left.

You couldn't help but smile as you thought about how Prompto had really been able to fit himself so well into the group as you walked to the cafeteria. He joking and funny personality was like a breath of fresh air when compared to the strict, straight forward attitude that seemed to always be there with everyone else. You could see why Noctis liked him. He was the total opposite of his whole world.

"Mr. Scientia?" You asked as you were walking through the lunch line as you grabbed yours and your dad's food.

"Yes? What's on your mind?" He asked as he slid his tray down the serving line as the line proceeded to the cashier.

"Has Prompto come up and asked about being one of Noctis' retainers?" You nervously asked as you kept your head down.

"No." Korn said as he looked at you with a questioning look. "Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering." You quickly said without making eyes contact.

I wonder why he hasn't asked yet. You thought to yourself as you looked down at the tray.

You kept your head down as you tried to figure out why Prompto hadn't asked about it yet. That had been one of the main topics that the two of you had been talking about the last two weeks during Biology class. Beside the class subject for the day of course. But he seemed to be very adamant to want to go through the training as well. But if that was the case, why hadn't he asked yet? You knew that he didn't want to ask about it with anyone else around, out of fear that it might not work. But how was he suppose to join in with the training if he didn't ask at all?

You thought about this as you set the tray down on the table for you and dad. Then you went over and grabbed some silverware and napkins for the three of you. Then after placing them down on the table, you went over and got everyone's drink. Your dad watched without saying a word as you just automatically assumed the server position without even batting an eye. Within a few moments, you had the table set and everyone served before you finally sat down. Korn carefully looked over everything and smiled.

"I'm glad to see that you haven't forgotten anything since you went back home." Korn said as he took a drink.

"How could I forget?" You asked as you sat down. "You did pound it into my head pretty hard."

Korn gave you a quick chuckle.

"Good point." He said as he cut into the grilled chicken breast on his plate.

"Of course I wish that this had been cooked by at least one of you two, oppose to the kitchen staff here. But then again I'm a bit bias when it comes to who cooks my food." He said before taking a bite.

"That's because they know your taste better anyone I know." Paul said as he smiled at Korn. "Except perhaps Marge or course. But then again, she can get to eat food that you normally would never try."

"Well Marge isn't exactly a person that I feel like challenging when it comes to food." Korn said with a nervous look.

"Well there's no argument there. Nobody would dare to challenge her." Paul returned as he took a bite from his fish sandwich.

You just smiled to yourself a you quietly ate your food and listened to them. Marge did have a way with making people eat her food. The only one who was still able to withstand her was Noctis. But Noctis was known for being a very picky eater anyway.

There didn't seemed to be anyone who could get him to eat vegetables. Not yet anyway. That was one of the things that you had been studying for a while now. How to disguise vegetables in your dishes. For there was more than one way to trick a prince into eating his veggies.

After everyone was finished eating, you took up all of the dirty dishes and cleaned the table afterwards. You knew that the kitchen staff would have wiped down the table, but you you were so use to doing it, that it was pretty much a habit by now. Plus, you dad still couldn't carry things very far yet while he was using his cane and you figured Korn would appreciate the help. Even if it was all part of the training plan.

After dropping off the cleaning cloth, you joined Korn and your dad by the door as they waited for you. Then the three of you headed for Ignis' room. As you walked you kept you head down as your heart started to race. You knew that Ignis was going to be fine. But you couldn't seem to get his scared look out of your head.

Korn stopped by the nurses station to confirm which room that they had put Ignis in. Then he directed everyone to the far door at the end of the hallway. When you walked in, you were slightly surprised that it was a private room. There was only one bed, a table with two chairs and a sleeper chair off to the side. You slightly smiled as you looked around the room. Leave it to Korn to find the only private room in the entire hospital for his nephew. Perhaps being in charge of the Intelligence Department did have it's advantages.

You looked over at the bed and saw Ignis laying back with his eyes closed as he felt drained from everything. You quickly walked over to him. He heard you coming and opened his eyes right as you got near his bed. Then he smiled at you as you dropped his bag and jacket by the bed. Then you reached over and wrapped your arms around his head and pulled him close to your chest as you leaned over him so that he didn't have to move.

"I felt like I might lose you again." You barely choked out as your throat tightened.

"Easy love." He quietly said to you.

He smiled then placed his hands on your arms as he tried to quietly calm you down as he felt you shaking as you held him. You pulled away so that you could look at him. You couldn't help the tears as a few rolled down your cheek. Ignis raised his hand up and brushed them away with his thumb. You closed your eyes as you fell under his spell just from his simple touch.

"It's alright." He said as he searched you face. "I'm still here."

Then he ran his fingers through your hair as he moved your hair behind your ear. Then he slightly smiled as he pulled you closer. You leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. He returned with the same gentleness as he closed his eyes as he relished in your touch as you both fell under the spell of the other.

He knew that you would be there. But the sight of you was still comforting to him. What little fears that he still had lingering from the day, seemed to disappear the minute he saw you. For you had not only saved him from the water, but you had saved him from his own lonely fearful thoughts.

"Well, I think our young diver is going to be just fine." You heard a familiar doctorly voice say from behind you.

You didn't turn around to see the doctor come walking in. Instead, you slowly pulled away so that you could look at Ignis. He smile back and ran his fingers across your cheek. You were glad to see the fear was completely gone and had been replaced with his tender glance once again.

"Good to see you doc." Paul said as he shook his head.

"You too." He said as he smiled at Paul. "I'm glad to see your up and moving more on your own now."

"It's good to be able to again. I was starting to go stir crazy with not being about to get around like I'm use to." Paul said as he smile back at the doctor.

"Knowing you. I can only imagine." Doc said as he smiled back at him. "Just don't over do it."

"Don't worry I won't. That young lady there won't let me." Paul smiled as he pointed towards you.

"Well at least one of them will keep you straight." Doc said with a smile.

"Make that two people." You heard Sara say from behind you as she walked in carrying a drink tray with four drinks in one hand and pulling a small suitcase with the other.

Doc turned around and looked at Tracy. Then he saw the drinks and suitcase.He simply smiled and shook his head. He already knew that this would mean that you would be staying. Not that that was a surprise. In fact he had already counted on it himself which is one of the reasons why Ignis had been put into a private room. He knew that the other patients wouldn't understand the relationship that you two had.

"This man can't go one night without trying to push himself to much with his rehab exercises." Tracy said as she sat the drinks down on the table and put the suitcase by the window for you. "So between the two of us, we keep him reined in."

"Perfect. Two is better then one.  And especially in Paul's case.  he needs at least two to keep him straight." Doc smiled back.

Paul simply shook his head as he slight smiled at them. He knew that they were only partially joking.  For ever since he has been going to rehab, he had been pushing himself to gain back the power and strength that he had lost since the Founder's day incident.

"Well young man, you have several visitors, besides those currently present of course, who would like to see you. Are you ready to see them?" Doc said to Ignis with a smile.

Ignis gave him a surprised look. "Visitors?"

"Of course if your not up to it, we can always leave?" You heard Noctis say from the door as he walked in.

You turned around and looked at Noctis with a smile. He simply smiled back.  Then he walked in and was followed by Gladio, Prompto, and Monica with baby Talcott.  You then stood back up and walked over to your dad so that the others could talk to him. You slightly smiled at them as they all chatted for a bit, before there was a knock on the door.

"Is it okay to come in?" You heard Marge's sweet scented voice say from the door.

"It is." Korn said as he looked up as Marge.

She walked in carrying full cake pan in her hands. She was followed by the entire kitchen staff as she entered the room. This included Gina who dragged the valet guy with her.

You smiled at the valet as he was now the one lost for words as he was being dragged in by her. You could tell that it had been her idea to come.  Not his.  But as she clung to his hand, there was no way that he was going to escape her.  At least not without causing a scene.  He gave you a bit of a concerned look.  But you simply smiled back at him before glancing out the window for a moment.

Then there was another knock on the door.  Everyone glanced over and saw the entire swim team outside the door.  You sighed to yourself.  You didn't really do good in large crowds.  And it looked like the room was going to get full very quickly.  So as the team came in, you started to make your way outside the room.  But no one seemed to notice, since the room was so full of people.  Or so you thought.

 Ignis paused and watched as you slipped out of the room. He had had a feeling that you might get uncomfortable when he glanced around and saw nothing but smiling faces. Sure you knew everyone, but there were an awful lot of people who came by just to see him.

You leaned up against the wall, as you looked out the window that was at the end of the hallway. The rain they had forecasted for the day had just started to slowly fall as the clouds took over the skies. You watched as people started to ran for their cars as they started to get wet. The rain seemed to always follow some misfortune or incident that was going on. Or so it seemed, to you.

And that would because it had rained the day after they buried your brother.  Then again after your mom's funeral.  It had even rained after your parents had gone missing.  Then again once you escaped from Nifelheim.  It had even rained when your dad was admitted to the hospital, and of course now with Ignis.

You looked slightly down as the gray skies seemed to match your mood.  You were getting a bit tired of the drama in your life.  But then again.  You thought as you looked back out the window. You would have missed out on so much if it hadn't happened.

"Hey?"  You heard a sweet voice say as Prompto emerged from the room. "Are you okay?"

"Hey.  I'm sorry.  But I don't like large crowds." You quietly said as you dropped your head as you became slightly embarrassed to admit that to him.

"Whew." He said with a quick sigh. "I thought I was the only one."

You then looked up at him as he walked over and stood beside you. Then out of habit, he pulled something out of his pocket. You glanced over and saw that is was a small handheld camera, which he turned on. Since when did he have a camera?

You quietly watched him as he stood there flipping through the pictures on his camera. That was when you realized who he had been in school. Your eyes got really wide as you looked at him. He had been that chubby, quiet kid in the back of the classroom that never talked to anyone.

That was when Prompto looked up at you and saw your wide eyed expression as you stared at him in shock. He looked a bit taken back as you stared at him in shock. He shifted from one foot to the other as you looked at him.

"What....what's that look for?" He asked as he got nervous.

"I just remembered who you were in elementary school now." You said as you stared at him. "You were that quiet kid kid who always sat in the back of the classroom. You always had your camera to your face."

"I..........ah..........." Prompto started to stutter as he gave you a slightly scared look.

"But how......?" You asked as you glanced up and down him as you lost your words.

"You can't tell Noctis." Prompto said as he quickly put his camera away.

"What? You mean Noctis hasn't figured it out yet?" You asked with surprise as you searched his face.

"No.  And I don't want him to." Prompto said as he dropped his head.

"But why not?" You said in wonder. "You've made a drastic change since elementary school. I'm sorry that even I didn't recognize you until now."

"It's fine." He quietly said as he looked back up at you. "No one really knew me then and its probable for the best."

"Well it's better than the other way around." You said as you watched his face. "They all knew me. But still no one wanted to talk to me."

"That's because they didn't want to believe you." He said as he gave you a slight smile. "I believed you. But you never seemed to want to talk to me either."

"It was hard to talk to anyone then." You said as you dropped your eyes. "After they all shunned me the way that they did. It was just easier to not talk to anyone anymore."

"Yeah." He said as he dropped his gaze. "They all ignored me because I was overweight."

"But look at you now?" You said as you turned back to him with a huge smile. "Your fucking hot!"

Prompto dropped his gaze and you saw his cheeks turn a bright shade of red.  

Holy shit!  He had no idea?  You thought as you looked at him.  How could he not? With his trim built and those well defined abs of his.  I wouldn't be surprised if the girls are beating down his door.

"I beat you have tons of girls chasing you now." You said as you watched him turning as red as a tomato.

"No. Not really." He quietly said as he looked away.

"Are you shitting me?" You asked as you stared at him.

"Afraid not." He said as he slightly chuckled at you.

"I see nothing funny about this." You heard Gwen's voice say as it drifted down the hallway.

"Gwen?" You said as you looked up and saw her and her family walking up to the two of you.

"Hey." She said as she stopped in front of the two of you as her parents headed into the room. "What are you doing out here? I figured that you would be permanently attached to him right now."

"The room's a bit full at the moment." You said as you gestured towards Ignis' room. "Plus he doesn't like PDA."

"PDA?" Prompto asked as he gave you a curious look.

"Public display of affection. You know, making out in front of others." Gwen said as she gave Prompto a slightly flirty look.

"Oh." He said as he tried to figure out if she was serious about the look or not.

She turned her head and looked inside the crowded room. "I see what you mean about the crowd though."

"We're heading in honey." Her mom called back to her.

"I'll be in shortly." She returned.

"Okay. But don't be too long. You don't want to be rude." Your dad said as he turned around and entered the room.

"I know dad." She quickly said as she turned back to you.

"Thank you again for packing up my bag earlier." You said as you briefly glanced down. "It really means a lot to me that you did that for me."

Now it was Gwen who looked down. "I just wanted to help.  And I knew that you would want to be able to leave right away. I know how much Ignis means to you. And I had a feeling that they were going to be bringing him here."

"So how did the rest of the meet go?" You asked as you watched her.

She slightly smiled as she shook her head. "We lost. Sure Trish tried to take the top spot for the diving competition. But after Ignis was taken away, even she got nervous to get back on the board. She was afraid the same thing would happened to her. Then even the rest of the individual events fell short. It was like the whole team fizzled out."

"Oh. I see." You said as both you and Prompto dropped your heads for a moment.

"I guess that just means that we will have to work harder to make up for it then." You said as you tried to cheer up everyone.

"Yeah." Prompto said as he smiled over at you. "We'll get them next time."

"Right." You and Gwen both responded back with a smile.

"Well let me go talk to Ignis really quick. Then I have to rip my parents away from Mr. Scientia before he throws us out of here." Gwen said with a smile.

"There's no worry with my dad standing right next to him. He won't allow anyone to irritate Korn with him standing right there." You said with a smile. "He's too good of a friend to let that happen."

Then you paused for a moment as you thought about how those two interact with each other. "Unless of course he's messing with Korn by watching him get frazzled. He has been known to do that every once in a while."

Gwen slightly laughed back at you. 

"I can now see where you get your sense of humor from then. But either way, I'll be back in a moment then." She said, then she turned into the room and was gone.

"Has she always been that nice to you?" Prompto asked as he gave you a curious look.

"Not even close." You said as you watched her walk away. 

"She is the reason that I was abducted by Niflheim during our middle school choir concert three years ago." You quietly said as you watched her disappear into the sea of people in Ignis' room.

"Wait. Are you serious?" Prompto asked as he stared at you in shock.

"As a heart attack." You said then looked him straight in the eye. "But she was just trying to get her parents back. Which worked, in a sense."

"What do you mean?" Prompto asked as he was almost scared to hear how.

"Well her parents and mine had been abducted and were being held captive. After I was caught I was able to free them and my folks as we made for our escape." You said then dropped you eyes. "But in the end, it cost my mom her life. She was killed as we were making our way out of the headquarters building."

"That's awful. I'm so sorry." Prompto said as he gave you a concerned look.

"Yeah. But at least I got both of her parents out, as well as my dad." You said as tear ran down your cheek. "I guess you could count the glass as three fourths full."

"Yeah." Prompto said as he dropped his eyes. "Plus you got to know your parents. I never met mine. I was adopted when I was a baby. So I've never met my real parents."

"Wow. Really? I'm sorry. Do you hate them for not being there for you?" You asked as you looked back at him.

"I use to. But through the years, I learned to forgive them. But Karen and Frank have been amazing. They have been raising me this whole time. I couldn't have asked for a more loving couple." Prompto said as he looked at you with a slight smile. "They have been the ones encouraging me this whole time."

"Speaking of encouraging." You started and looked hard at him. "Why haven't you talked to Noctis or Korn about becoming a retainer yet? I thought that you were going to ask?"

"I hate being rejected. So I've been afraid to ask in case they turn me away." He said as he dropped his eyes.

"They took me. And I'm a nobody." You said with a smile. "Of course you will have to prove yourself. But I think you can do that by simply staying by Noctis' side and with training."

"You really think so?" He ask with a big grin.

"I know so." You smiled back.

"Hey!" You heard Gladio shout from the room.

You looked into the room and spotted him as he started waving you in. "Ignis wants to see you." He shouted out to you and Prompto.

Both you and Prompto looked at each other with a slightly surprised look, but then you both headed into the room. Prompto entered first as he walked over to Gladio. Then you entered the room. The whole room started to fill with applause as you walked in. You nervously looked around as everyone started clapping for you.

You froze in place as everyone smiled as they clapped for you. You weren't quite sure what was going on. But it was starting to freak you out. Then as few people started to gently push you over towards Ignis as he sat there smiling at you. This didn't take much encouragement since you they were making you nervous.

You grabbed Ignis' hand once you reached him. You gave him a nervous smile as you tried to stay calm. He kissed your hand then gave you a an encouraging smile back.

"You okay?" He asked when you didn't say anything as you nervously looked down as the clapping stopped.

"I'm not sure what that was about." You said as you looked back at him.

"That, my dear, was us thanking you for saving our Ignis." Marge said as she smile broadly at you. "We would all be lost if anything happened to him."

That was when it hit you how many people he has helped through out his life. Some of them he had been helping for years, like Noctis, Gladio, Korn, King Regis, Marge and even Gina. While others it had only been a few years, like with the entire swim team and kitchen staff. Then there was those that he just meet that you knew for certain that he would help out as well, being the case with Prompto.

"I wasn't just saving Ignis though." You said to everyone before you turn back to Ignis. "I was also returning a favor."

Ignis grabbed your hand tighter, then he pulled you closer to him. Then he leaned in a gave you a kiss on the cheek.

"Are you staying with me tonight?" He whispered in your ear so that no one else heard him.

"Of course." You said as you carefully wrapped you arms across his upper chest.

"Good." He said as he lightly dragged his lips across your neck as he buried his head in your hair.

"I want to thank you in my own way." He said in a deeper voice. "Once everyone leaves of course."

Then he gave you a slightly heated kiss on your neck. Your skin was instantly ignited from his lips. Your breath slightly caught as he pulled away. You then felt a chill from where his lips had left your neck as the cool air ran across the wet skin.

"I'm confused." Gina said as she pulled you out of the trance that he was starting to put you in.

"With what?" Ignis asked her as he slightly moved over on the bed as he pulled you down so that you could sit beside him.

"What favor?" She asked as she looked back and forth between the two of them.

Both of you slightly laughed as he wrapped his hand around your waist. Then you both proceeded to tell her and everyone else about the swim tryouts in middle school. And how he had to save you after Chad had kicked you to the bottom of the pool. The whole room was quiet as the two of you talked about it. Even Noctis chimed when someone would ask him a question about it. But beyond that, it was like the two of you were just reliving the whole incident all over again. At least what you could remember that is.

******Author Note******
I apologize for the late post. Head colds are horrible when your trying to write. All you feel is foggy and you just can't seem to concentrate. But all is good now. So now it is time to pick it back up again. ;)

Be sure to come back to see how Prompto will handle joining the group on the training path for Noctis.

Thanks for reading. :)
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