"She's only 16?"  Maria asked Paul in astonishment as they relaxed in the lounge chairs, while Luna sat on the couch by the fireplace in Luna's room as they waited for you to return after talking with Ignis.  "But why is she doing this at such a young age?"

"She wanted to help Prince Noctis.  Just like you Luna."  Your dad quietly said as he watched the the wine swirl around in his glass as he remembered your plea with him and Lynn about it.

Everyone had been sitting around the dining room table after eating a very well prepared meal made by Ignis.  Which had been right after learning about your little panic attack secret.  Paul could tell that it had really disturbed Ignis since he seemed to go the extra measure with every single dish that he had prepared that night.  Paul dropped his head for a moment as he remembered Ignis asking him about what had happened.  

Only for both of them to be silent for a while.  Because he had no idea, since you had never talked about it with him.  All you had ever said was that you wanted to go home and that you never wanted to go camping again.  But then you completely threw both him and your mom off when you had asked the question that seemed to change the whole world.

"I was wondering if you would mind if I started training with Ignis on how to become a retainer to Noctis?" You had asked really quick as you closed your eyes and clenched your hands as you sat at the dining room table waited for the volcano to erupt.

Your mom had almost choked on her drink.

"You what?" She asked once she stopped coughing.

"I want to start training with Ignis on how to become a royal retainer to Noctis." You said as you looked her straight in the eye.

"But why would you want to do that?"  He had asked as he watched you intently.

"I want to be able to help out Noctis. I want to serve as one of his retainers." You said as you looked right back at him with determination. "Plus I'm tired of having to be the one who needs saving. I want to be the one who helps out and saves others."

Paul had paused for a minute with his mouth open as he took in what you had just said.  He could tell that you were serious even then.  And especially after caughting the you and Ignis sparring in the backyard.  Of course he had thought at first that it perhaps for more lessons in self defense.  Never had he expected you to ask to be a retainer. But as he looked at your (E/C) eyes that seemed to be on fire.  He you were serious.  But he wasn't about to let you.  Not at first anyway.

"There is no way that my daughter is going to serve as a retainer." He had spouted out.

"And why not?" You almost yelled back at him.

"Your not ready for something like that." He had said without looking at you.

"And how do you know that I'm not ready?" You had shouted back as you stood up.

"Paul, will you let her explain before you start shouting at her." Lynn said to him as she could see the temper in both of you starting to increase. 

After the stern look that she had given him, he closed his mouth and sat back in his chair as he waited.

"Fine. Well then, explain. Why do you all of a sudden what to be a retainer? Help me to understand why you would put your life on the line for him like that." He had asked as he crossed his arms and legs in his chair.

He had tried to keep his eyes averted from Lynn's stern look that she gave him before she  turned back to you and stated. "Please help us to understand why." 

The response that you gave back wasn't one that he had been prepared for.  In fact it had been an eye opener for him since he had had no idea what was really going on with you until that moment.  At least not the full extent anyway.  He knew that you were having a hard time.  But he had had no idea how hard of a time. 

"Everywhere that I have gone, I've never really felt like I fit in. This is why I usually end up being the one who is off to the side or picked last for everything." You said as you looked down. "Well ever since I meet Noctis and Ignis, I finally found that somewhere that I feel comfortable. I finally found what makes me happy. And that's spending time with them." 

Paul's heart fell when you had looked back up at him with tears started to form under your eyes. "I'm tired of being alone dad. I'm tired of always being left out or pick on, and laughed at. I just want to feel welcomed and wanted by someone. Is that too much too ask?"

"I know that this is a lot to take in. But it's something that I really want to do." You had said as you looked at him. "I love you dad. But you and I both know that you can't protect me forever."

He had had to look down at the table as he felt his temper rise as he heart shattered.  He had had no idea that you were treated like that.  The thought was crushing and infuriating all at the same time to him.  It pissed him off that you were upset.  But at the same time he was crushed that he had missed it somehow.  

But how had he missed it?  He was a fucking secret agent for the investigation division.  He had caught hundreds of criminals in his career.  How the fuck did he miss people hurting his own daughter?  Those questions and more had inflamed his fury to the point that a tear roll down his face as he clenched his teeth and hands into white knuckle fists.  And this didn't go away right away as you continued. 

"I know that this may not be something that you had hoped for me. But it's something that I really want to do. I'm tired of being the victim, I want to be the victor instead. I want to make a difference. And the path that I choose has me serving Noctis as a retainer like Ignis." You had said with conviction. "I want to serve him, so that I can better serve and protect you."

"She had told us that she didn't want to be lonely anymore.  And that she was tired of being the victim."  Paul said as he absently looked at the deep red zinfandel wine as it smoothly moved around the side of the glass as he slightly tilted it  before he took a drink and drained the glass.  

"So we let her try."  He continued as he sat up and poured himself another glass.  "Of course if we had known how well she would do with it, we would have started it sooner."

"She's that good?"  Luna asked as her eyes sparkled.

"You tell me."  Paul said as he looked at Luna.  "You've seen her in action in class.  What did you think?"

Luna smiled as she looked down.  "She is very impressive."

Suddenly the door opened up and you walked in carrying the laptop and your bag.  Everyone turned around and looked at you as you walked in.  You smiled at them as you closed the door behind you and started to make your way over to them.  But as you walked over you couldn't help but feel that you missed something.

"So how is Ignis doing?"  Your dad as he saw you getting uncomfortable as you came closer as everyone was staring at you.

"He's doing good."  You replied as you sat down next to Luna as she sat on the couch.  "I'm sorry that we took so long.  But we had a lot to catch up on."

"That's why I told you to take as much time as you needed."  Your dad said with a slight smile before he took a drink of wine.

"Thank you."  You said with a smile.  "And thank you for letting me use your computer.  I really appreciate it."

"Any time kiddo."  Your dad replied as he watched you set his laptop down on the coffee table.  "Now you have one more person to talk to.  Otherwise his highness might drive his majesty crazy."

"Right."  You said with a smile.  "But that call will be mainly for someone else."

"Of course."  He said as he reached over and grabbed his laptop.

Then Paul opened up the lid and started typing on the keyboard as he brought back up the video conference.  Luna gave you a curious look.  You simply smiled back at her as you started to get excited again.  Maria gave a slight smile herself as she stood up.

"I think I shall fetch us some tea for the evening.  Would you like some more wine Paul?"  Maria said as she addressed the room.

"No.  I think this will be my last glass."  Paul said as he watched the screen as he waited for the connection to be established.  "But thank you for asking.  I will perhaps have a cup of tea though.  I might help me sleep tonight."

"Very well."   You heard Maria say as she walked over and walked out the door.

"Is there something wrong?"  You asked your dad, as you looked at him.

Your dad slowly looked at you and gave you a smile.  "No.  It's nothing.  I'm just a bit nervous being this close to the empire is all.  It's nothing to worry about."

"Are you sure?"  You asked a you gave him a curious look.

"I'm sure."  He said with a quiet smile.

Then he turned the computer around so that it was facing you and Luna.  You slightly gasped as you saw that Noctis was now on the screen with a surprised look himself.  You couldn't help but smile back at him as he relaxed when he realized that it was you and Luna.  Luna slightly shifted beside you as she gasped as well.

  "And I'm sure that Noctis would much rather talk to you ladies then he would me."  Your dad said as he stood up.  "I'll be on the patio if you need me."

"Okay."  You and Luna both replied before you turned back to the computer.

"Well this is a pleasant surprise."  Noctis said as he slightly smiled at the two of you.  "I wasn't expecting to talk to both of you tonight."

"Well actually this will be mainly you and Luna.  You and I talk all the time."  You replied with a smile.  "But it's not very often that you and Luna get to talk to each other in person like this.  So I thought that it would be a nice treat for both of you.  And besides, I wanted to make up to you for not answering my phone for the last 12 hours or so."

"Wait.  Are you serious?"  Noctis asked in surprise.

"Of course."  You smiled back.  "I can call you tomorrow on the train if you like.  But tonight should be about you two.  After all, we don't know when you two will be able to catch up again.  Now do we?"

They both gave you a surprised look as you smiled at both of them.  "I'll talk to you tomorrow Noct.  And like me dad told me earlier.  Take all the time you need.  You both have a lot of catching up to do."

"Thank you."  Luna said with a smile as you got up.

"Your welcome princess."  You beamed back.

Then you walked away from them and headed out to the patio to find your dad.  As you walked away you could hear Luna and Noctis start to talk.  You couldn't help but to smile.  You knew that they both needed this considering they were using you to chat back and forth.  Which you didn't mind.  But certain things should always be in person.

You slowly walked out onto the patio and was relieved to see that it hadn't gotten too cold since you had come in.  You saw that your dad was standing over by the railing as he looked out over the garden as it spread out in front of the patio.  The twilight made the garden glow in the moonlight as if it was late afternoon.  The sight was beautiful and made your heart flutter as you walked over to your dad.

"It's a beautiful night tonight."  You calmly said as you came to a stop by the railing.

"It is."  Your dad quietly agreed.  "It's only missing one thing."

"And what's that?" You asked as you looked over at your dad with curious eyes.

"Lynn."  He said with a slightly cracked voice.  "She would love this.  In fact I could even see us dancing in this again."

"Dancing?"  You quietly asked as you watched him carefully.

"Dancing."  He answered as he dropped his head.  "The night your mother and I started dating, all started with a night like tonight.  We were at the academy's graduation ball.  I had been watching her from afar as she danced with some guy.  But when he started to forcefully grab her.  She shoved him off and walked outside to get away from him.  I grew concerned with I saw him  storm out after her.  So I naturally followed them to make sure that she would be okay.

"But as soon as he caught up with her outside he grabbed her wrist and started to squeeze. She yelled at him to let go.  But instead he tightened up his grip and yanked her back into him.  Then he started to feel her up against her will as she fought against him.  She kept yelling at him to let her go.  But he wouldn't.  I couldn't stand it."  You dad said as he dropped his gaze as he tightly gripped the railing.

"I went up to him and grabbed him in a head lock and yanked him back.  He immediately let go of her as he grabbed my arm in an attempt to break my grip.  But it didn't work since I tightened up my grip and spin him around as he threw him to the ground.  I don't remember much after that. Since all I did was pound him into the ground for hurting her."  He continued as he knuckles turned white from the pressure. 

"In fact I barely remember stopping as she grab my arm and pulled it back.  She pleaded with me to stop.  It was then that I realized that he was already unconscious and bleeding from his nose and mouth.  I stood back up in shock.  But before I could looked back at him, she grab my face and kissed me." He said as he voice and face softened.

"I can still remember tasting the salt from her tears as I returned the kiss.  It had been the kiss that I had been longing for a long time.  The smell of the sweet flowers, mixed with her delicate perfume had my head spinning.  And the sweet taste of her mixed with the salt of her tears was like the finest rum I had ever had.  Then after we broke apart to catch our breath. I couldn't seem to catch mine since the moonlight made her skin glow as if she was an angel."  He said in a dream state as he stared back out into the garden.  "That night, we dancing in the moonlight as the music drifted out of the doors.  And that was when she became the center of my whole world.  I had never meet anyone like her before then.  And after that moment, I decided that I was never going to let her go."

"Is that why you were always so protective of her?"  You asked as you looked at him.

"Yeah."  He replied as he looked at you with a slight smile.

You couldn't help the tears as they started to stream down your face.  You had had no idea that that had happened.  But it did explain why your dad would practically flip out if another guy tried to touch her or talk to her in a harsh tone.  Hell he had almost punched your brother when they had had an argument one night where your brother had yelled at your mom.   

You reached over and wrapped your arms around him and slightly squeezed him.  "That also explains why you knocked out Keith."

"Keith is just lucky that I didn't do more."  Your dad replied as he wrapped his arms around you and started rubbing your back.  "If it hadn't been for Rick standing right there, I would have done the same thing to him."

"Well I'm glad you didn't."  You quietly replied.  "I don't want you to get in trouble for an asshole like him."

"Normally I would be upset with you cussing like that." Your dad said as he held you. "But I will let it slide this time. But only this time."

"Okay." You said as you slightly laughed.

Then you slightly squeezed him.  " I love you Dad."

Your dad slightly squeezed you back. "I love you too kiddo."

You then opened your eyes and looked out at the garden. "I miss Mom."

Your dad took a quick deep breath and gave you a gentle kiss on your head.

"So do I kiddo." Paul said as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"So do I." He finished as he started rubbing your back again as he fought off more tears as they threatened to fall.

You stood there holding each other for a long time. Each of you lost in your own thought as you looked out over the garden. The sweet smell gently filled the air around you as your dad held you close.  You watched as the gentle night breeze seemed to kiss the flowers as they ever so slightly swayed to the side. You couldn't help but to slightly smile as you felt your whole body relax.

After a couple hours you turned towards your head towards the door as you heard the lock move.  You saw Luna standing in the door frame. She was smiling lovingly at the two of you.  She slowly walked out and joined both of you at the railing.

"So how is Noctis?"  You asked with a smile.

She dropped her head as she smiled.  "He's doing good."

"I'm glad."  You smiled back at her as you could see her trying not to blush.

"He misses you though."  She said as she looked back up at you.  "He says Ignis and Gladio are driving him crazy and Prompto can't come over all the time."

You slightly smiled.  "That sounds about right."

"I wanted to thank both of you for everything."  Luna said as she gave you both a loving smile.  "I really learned a lot and had a great time."

Your dad then released you as he smiled and slightly nodded to her.  "It was our pleasure princess."

"And I can't wait to come back so that we can continue."  You replied as you smiled broadly at her.

Luna returned with the same smile.  "Me too."

"For now though, let's turn in for the night."  Your dad began as he gestured towards the door."  "Some of us have a train to catch in the morning."

"Right."  You and Luna both replied.

Paul could just barely make out the faint screams from people in the far distance.  But he wasn't sure why.  Why were they screaming?  What had happened?  

Suddenly his ear started ringing loudly and his head started throbbing.  He gritted his teeth as he reached up and grabbed his ear.  The ringing intensified as he head started to throb more as he laid on his stomach on the bed.  But then he felt someone's hand on his leg.  He jumped from their touch and quickly tried to roll over.

But when he went to flip onto his back as he tried to move away from them, they squeezed their hand.  Paul cried out as he felt sheer pain shot throughout his entire leg as if someone had just snapped it in half again.  Paul tried to push himself up as the pain was starting to cause sparks to fly across his eyes.  But he was stopped short as a hand came up and pushed him back onto the bed.

"So what he told me is true."  Paul heard a familiar voice say.  "He had hurt the infamous Paul.  Impressive."

"Let go of me!"  Paul growled back as he tried again to get away from them.

"Not a chance."  The voice quickly said back.  "Not when I now know how to really hurt you."

Paul forced his eyes open as he tried to see who was hurting him.  But all he could make out was a silhouette of a fairly tall person with a short haircut.  Paul grunted as he jolted from the person giving a slight squeeze to his leg.

"He sure did a number on you didn't he."  The voice said in a smooth tone.  "But why didn't he kill you?"

"How the hell should I know?"  Paul growled back as he fought to stay conscious as the pain was starting to make him blackout.  "Why don't you fucking ask him yourself?"

"I already have."  The guy returned in an almost childlike voice.  "But he didn't seem to want to give me any details.  I just happen to be lucky enough to learn from him that he had meet you in Insomnia in the first place.  I learned about what he did to you from the newspapers and from our little spy who has been keeping an eye on you and your precious daughter."

"You stay away from her!"  Paul shouted as he fought to move again.

Only for the person to pin him forcefully to the bed as they placed their hand on his left shoulder.  The motion sent a whole new pain shooting through him as he pressed directly on the scar from the stab wound from the sword.  All Paul could do was bury his head back in his pillow as he cried out from the blinding pain.

"You are in no position to be giving me any threats."  He said back with more force as he squeezed both Paul's leg and shoulder which made him cry out again.  "But I must say that I applaud your efforts to resist me.  I have always admired that about you Paul.  You never give up without a fight. To bad it won't be enough to save you."

Paul then caught a glimpse of white hair right as he saw a hand come flying at his face with a cloth.  Paul went to try and move.  But wasn't fast enough as the hand covered up his mouth and nose and held tight.  Paul tried to flight it off as he threw his head sideways.  But it wasn't enough to.  And soon everything went blank.

"Are you sure that you have to leave this early?"  Luna asked you and your dad as you stood in the entryway of the manor.

"I'm afraid we do."  Your dad responded as he slug his bag over his shoulder.  "We don't want to miss out train."

 "Okay."  She quietly responded.  "Well keep in touch and I'll see you in a couple years."

"Yeah."  You replied.  "I'll be sure to call you when we get back."

"Yes please."  Luna said as she gave you a big hug.  "I'll miss you (y/n)."

"I'll miss you too princess."  You replied as you gave her a slight squeeze before you released her.

"Please."  Luna said with a smile as she looked back at you as she stood there.  "Just call me Luna."

"Okay."  You replied with a smile.  "I talk to you later......Luna."

"Be safe."  She called as your dad turned the two of you towards the door

And that was the last that you heard as you both walked across the courtyard.  The sky was still dark.  And the early morning chill was filled with plumes of clouds as they came from the two of you as you walked to the train.

"Do you mind telling me why we left soon early?"  You asked as you walked beside your dad as you crossed the first bridge.  "I mean we could have stayed for breakfast at least."

"The train leaves early and we don't want to miss it."  Your dad said as he slowly walked beside you.  "And besides, we can always grab something to eat on the train as we travel."

You glanced over and noticed that he walking with a bit of a limb as he seemed to be favoring his left leg again.  "Are you okay?"

"Of course."  He said in a flat tone as he tried to straighten out as he walked.

But as you watched, it seemed to get worse.  "It's your leg again.  Are you sure your okay?"

"I just slept on it wrong is all."  He said as he shifted his bag to his left shoulder as he tried to adjust the weight.  "I'll be fine once we get settled on the train." 

Then you saw him wince as his bag moved over to his shoulder.  Before shifted his bag back over again. You gave him a concerned look. You could tell something was majority wrong.

"You must have fallen out of bed if your hurting this much." You said as approached the train.

"It was a very firm bed." Your dad  practically growled as he stepped back onto the train.

"Okay." You quietly responded as you paused for a moment before you followed him.

The train didn't pull out for about another hour after you got settled in your sleeper room.  But you didn't mind.  It gave you a chance to watch your dad as he seemed to struggle as he laid down on the bed.  He seemed to be in pain as he laid back.  But despite every effort that you made for him to tell you what was wrong.  He refused to open up to you.

So finally after a slightly heated argument, you decided to drop it instead.  Then after he refused to leave the cabin, you went and grabbed some food for the two of you from the dinning car and brought it back.  But even then, he didn't eat that much.  But as you relaxed in the car, you were slightly relieved when he finally fell asleep.

The smooth rhythmic sound of the train flying across the tracks was soothing to you as you watched the scenery fly past.  You couldn't help but to get lost in thought as you stared out the window.   You didn't like it when he acted like this.  You wanted to help him.  But how could you when he pushed you away.

"So your in Cartanica already?"  You heard Noctis ask through your phone.  "I must say that I'm a bit surprised.  I didn't think the train was that quick."

"Well, there weren't that many people leaving that early."  You replied as you walked across the platform that over looked the city.  "We did still have to wait for about an hour before we left though."

"Why where you there so early? Surly you could have slept in a bit longer and eaten at the manor." Noctis replied.

"I know."  You said as you stopped by the railing and looked out over the desert city.  "But I don't think that my dad wanted to stay there anymore."

"Did something happen that would make him want to leave like that?"  You heard Ignis ask.

"Not that I know of."  You replied as you dropped your head.  "But then again.  He wasn't acting like himself as we walked to the train.  In fact he looked like he was in pain from his leg and shoulder."

"Well that's odd."  Ignis replied.

"That's what I thought as well."  You replied.  "And especially with how defensive he got when I tried to ask him about it."

"How peculiar."  Ignis said.  "Do you happen to share the same room with him?"

"Not last night." You returned as you watched the elevator moving people up and down from the platform.  "They had been able to get him a separate room."

"Perhaps something happened while he was sleeping last night." Ignis said in a distant tone as he thought out loud.

"Perhaps. But we won't know for sure unless he tells us." You replied as you saw the conductor start to head back to the engine.  "Well I better get going.  I just saw the conductor heading for the train.  I'll call when we get to the port."

"Please do." Ignis said in a slightly stressed tone.

"I miss you guys. I can't wait to be home again." You said in a sad tone as you started for the train.

"We miss you too." Noctis replied. "Perhaps we could arrange for you to come over for dinner when you get back."

"That would be nice."  You said as you stepped back on the train.  

"Of course it will all depend on when we get back."  You said as you walked to your room.

"Of course."  Ignis replied.  "But I'm afraid that that might have to wait.  I have already made plans for you as soon as you get back.  There's something that I wanting to do with you as soon as you returned."

"Really?"  You asked as you stopped with your hand on the door handle to your room.  "And what is that?"

"That love, is for me to know. And for you to find out."  He said as his voice slight dropped down.  "But I promise that you'll enjoy it."

"Okay."  You said as you blushed from his tone.   "But until then.  I'll call you before we board."

"Sounds good."  Noctis said.  "I'll be waiting for your call."

"As well I."  Ignis added.  "Stay safe love."

"I will."  You replied as you blushed again.  "Bye."

You then hung up and entered the room.  After closing the door behind you, you turned and saw that your dad was now on his computer typing away.  He seemed really focused as his eyes never left the screen and his fingers flew across the keys.  You gave him a slight smile before taking your seat by the window across from him.

"So how are they?"  Your dad in a slightly dry tone.

"Their good."  You replied as you glanced at your dad for a moment.  "They can't wait until we return."

"So I've been told."  Your dad answered as he continued his work. "I've also been told that Ignis wants to take you out for a day as well once we get back."

Your breath caught as you quickly looked back at him.  "Did he already ask you or something?"

"No."  Your dad answered as he kept his eyes on his screen.  "Korn happen to mention it to me when we talked while you were outside getting some fresh air."

"Oh."  You replied as you started to relax for a bit.  "He didn't happen to mention where we were going did he?"

Your dad stopped typing and looked up at you.  "He didn't tell you?"

"No."  You shyly replied as you looked down.  "He made it seem like a surprise or something."

"Huh."  Your dad said as he gave you a slight smile.  "Then I won't be the one to ruin that surprise."

You quickly looked at him.  "You know where we're going?  You have to tell me!"

Your dad smiled as he looked back down at his computer screen.  "You will just have to wait and find out kiddo."

"But dad....."  You started pleading.

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

Don't you hate it when your sleep is interrupted.  Of course being attack in your sleep is a totally different thing then your someone jumping on you wake you up for christmas morning.  Give me christmas morning anyday compared to the other.

Now with the train and Tenebrae far behind you.  It's time to head back to Altissia and ultimately home.  But as you sail the open waters again, it seems that the seas will have other plans for you. 

 And what are those plans?  You will just have to keep an eye out for the next chapter and find out for yourself.  :)

Thanks for reading.  :)

*************************