I was in the mood for fluff and fun…

Viola.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Time was of the essence.

That was what the group kept in mind as they made their way through the Iselia Ranch, their goal to halt the growth of the mutated Kharlan Tree and force it back into its cage of sorts. They had gone their separate ways, the necessary ways, in order to contain the catastrophe. Lloyd himself, the leader of their little band, was heading in after Forcystus alongside the Sage siblings and…the traitor. Kratos Aurion was assisting them in their plight, his goals coinciding with that of the group…for the time being. There was no time for more awkwardness, however, at least not until the world's existence was assured. So they fought, fought their way through the ranch and through the grunts to get at their leader. It was in one such fight that something went wrong. It didn't seem too big of a concern at the moment…but it spiraled out of control soon enough.

Far out of control.

"Lloyd-!"

The brunette turned and hacked down the Desian underling, letting his guard down for just an instant in relief. That one instant, however, turned out to be all that fate needed. He lurched forward when he was struck upside the back of his head, his eyes widening in shock at the blow a staff-wielder had delivered to his cranium. The last thing- the last person-he saw as he fell was Kratos, the man's eyes widening in horror as he spotted the teen falling to the floor. As Lloyd hit the ground with a 'thud', the world went black, and yet the image of Kratos' face stuck with him just a few moments longer…

He was running. He was running with his hands stretched out before him, attempting to catch the tall figure moving before him. Though…his hands were small, small and chubby, and the man he chased after was far too large…

"Daddy!" he called, his voice high and sweet.

The man ahead of him stopped and turned, looking down at him with a smile as he ran forward. He crouched down to the ground, spreading his arms out wide as he ran into them, the man picking him up and lifting him into the air. The strong arms around him held him close to the owner's chest, a heartbeat from the larger male resonating with the little one's.

"Now what are you so happy about, Lloyden?" the man asked with a slight laugh.

"Me with Daddy!" he exclaimed, as if that explained everything.

"Heh, that you are," he smiled, his eyes glinting warmly.

"Kratos? Lloyd?"

They turned as a woman approached them, a smile on her face as she walked toward them beside the large, white animal called 'Noishe'.

"Lloyd, are you bothering your father?" she teased with a grin.

"It's almost impossible for him to bother me, Anna," Kratos smiled.

"Hee! 'Cause Daddy loves me, right?" he grinned.

Kratos laughed and ruffled the toddler's hair, smiling.

"Of course, Lloyden," he smiled, "I'll always love you."

Kratos. Daddy.

Kratos, Daddy, Anna, Lloyden…

It all came at him at once. All of it. Everything that he could possible remember, he remembered. Anna cooing over him, grinning that grin she passed onto him, cleaning up after him and yelling at him when he did something wrong. Kratos picking him up, tossing him into the air, carrying him on his shoulders, looking up at the stars, hugging him, talking to him, smiling at him…saying things like 'I love you'…

It was as if a million pictures were flashing through his mind at once, racing before his eyes, dashing across his brain in an endless barrage. He twitched and thrashed, gritting his teeth as tears streamed down his cheeks, gasping for breath-

"Lloyd!"

His eyes jolted open, a sharp intake of breath signaling his wakening as sweat rolled down his forehead and tears blurred his vision.

"Lloyd, Lloyd are you okay!?" Genis asked, obviously worried for his friend.

"Don't move too quickly," Raine instructed, going to touch his shoulder.

"Are you all right?" came the final voice.

Lloyd jerked his vision to Kratos, seeing the man's frown and that strange gleam in his eyes-

The same gleam he gave him as a child.

"Dad," Lloyd blurted, his mouth agape as he stared at Kratos.

Kratos flinched, his eyes widening as the Sages stared.

"What-? Lloyd, are you all right-?" Genis started.

"You're my-! You're my father! You-! You bastard-!"

Lloyd made a sudden movement to get up, to get up and get away from the angel which was now staring at him with his mouth agape.

"Lloyd, what are you talking about?" Raine snapped, frightened for her student. "Calm down, clear your head. Kratos isn't your father, Lloyd, get a hold of yourself-"

"Yes he is!" Lloyd shouted, not taking his eyes off the man. "He- he is! I-"

"Lloyd, what's wrong with you?!" Genis cried, fear soaking his voice.

"I remember!" Lloyd shouted, shaking his head violently. "I just- I just remembered my family- when- when I was little! I remembered my father, Genis! And it's- it's…"

Lloyd stared dumbly at Kratos, the elder male merely staring back at him. Raine shot suspicious glances between the two of them as a grown creased into her face, her eyes narrowed dangerously. Genis, however, shook his head.

"Lloyd, snap out of it! Think, Kratos can't be you father! For one, he's too young, and two- well- well come on! That just can't be true!"

"But- but I-" Lloyd frowned deeply, looking away.

He…couldn't have just imagined all those memories, could he? And…and Genis was right, Kratos was too young. Even if he looked exactly like his father, he couldn't be, his father would've been older looking by now. Then there was…he just couldn't be! Right?! He couldn't be, he just- he just-

"Lloyd, try to calm down, that hit to your head did some damage…" Raine said.

"But I-!"

"Kratos is not your father," Raine reiterated, glaring at her pupil, "we have more important things to do right now, Lloyd, I'm sorry that you're confused but-"

"I'm not confused!" he snapped back. "I'm not messed up! I remembered! Kratos is-"

"Kratos, tell him you're not his father!" the woman directed her glare to the man. "We don't have time to by doing this!"

"…" Kratos could only stare at her; then back at Lloyd's desperately confused face.

"You…aren't, right?" Genis said slowly, nervously looking between them.

Kratos barely managed to swallow.

"Of course not, don't be ridiculous," he said.

Lloyd looked as if he had been smacked.

"But…but you… I…?" Lloyd trailed, shaking his head slowly.

The teen stared dumbly at Kratos a moment.

This- this didn't make sense- but it did make sense- but- but-

"I- I- We don't have time for this!" Lloyd shook his head violently. "You're right, we need to stop the mana reactor!"

"Lloyd, are you sure you're all right-?" Raine started.

"Yes, I'm fine! I- I was just messed up for a minute, let's go!" he snapped, hastily continuing down the hall.

The Sages exchanged glances before following after him, Kratos staring after the red-clad teen as he remained rooted in place.

"Lloyden…" he whispered, "…how…? How can you know?"

Why did things like this keep happening? None of this was…all of this was so wrong…

He didn't know what to expect. What happened, however, was that Lloyd flat-out ignored him. The teen wouldn't talk to him, wouldn't reply to him, wouldn't even look at him. This action was interpreted differently, however. Genis figured Lloyd was still a bit confused and embarrassed after proclaiming Kratos to be his father; Raine too, thought it was a mix between confusion and embarrassment while she still ran through…possibilities, though she decided now would not be the best time to bring them up. Not just yet…. She shot a glance at Kratos.

Kratos, of course, took it to be that…that Lloyd…

They both knew. Both of the swordsmen knew, and they knew each other knew, but Kratos had just told him that he wasn't his father. Lloyd was trying to wrap his mind around all of it, to figure out what was a lie and what wasn't. Kratos was just trying to figure out what he should do. However, the only interaction between them happened a few minutes later, when Colette had been attacked and her disease revealed.

"Colette-!"

"Lloyd, send the signal, now!" Kratos ordered, knowing that time was running out.

"But Colette's-!" he started, barely realizing it was Kratos who had spoken.

"The Chosen won't die yet but if you don't hurry this world will!" he snapped, Lloyd turning and locking eyes with him.

For a brief second, it felt like such a long time as they held each other's gaze. Both of them stared in their mixed thoughts and emotions in a silent whirlwind before Kratos broke off.

"Now do it," he finished simply.

"…All right," Lloyd stated.

They ignored each other until they were settled in the village, Colette resting in her bedroom. Kratos and Lloyd spoke, of course, but not to each other. They blatantly went about as if the other was not there, and they would have continued to do so had Raine not spoken up.

"Lloyd, how's your head?" she asked, looking at him.

"Huh-? Oh, that, it's- I'm fine," he lied, looking away from her.

"Hm? He get hurt or something?" Zelos asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah…he hit his head in a fight," Genis explained, "and…um…we were kind of worried for a few minutes."

"Really? Why? Bud's got a thick head, I don't see why you would've-" Zelos smirked.

"He thought Kratos was his father," Raine supplied bluntly.

She noted how both Kratos and Lloyd flinched.

"Say what?" Zelos blinked.

"He did?" Presea eyed Lloyd, then Kratos.

"Well, it's safe to say that is not possible," Regal stated, "Kratos is far too young, after all…"

"Y- Yeah, I know, I was just messed up for a minute," Lloyd said rapidly, his face flushing as he looked away, "you're absolutely right. He can't be- he isn't."

An awkward silence filled the room before he spoke again.

"I need some air," he said, "okay? I want to be alone for a minute…"

He didn't wait for anyone to comment, just left the building as he was. Once in the yard he leaned against the fence, gingerly touching the back of his head. He winced when his fingers made contact, sighing as his hand dropped. Could it…could it be that that had just really screwed up his brain? But…but no, those memories- they- they were too real. He knew they happened. He knew it, right down in the pit of his gut. Those things had happened, his father was… He was….

"Lloyd-"

He jerked violently and then whirled around at the sound of the voice, his eyes widening dangerously as the owner came into his sight.

"G- Get away from me!" Lloyd shouted, backing up instinctively only to run into the fence.

Kratos' frown increased, his eyes forlorn as he continued to slowly approach Lloyd.

"Lloyd-"

"No! No, get away!" Lloyd shook his head. "I- I don't want to see you right now-"

"Lloyd-" Kratos began again, reaching hand out to him.

Lloyd's eyes widened again as an image flashed in his head. Kratos stretching his hand out to him, just like this, except with a smile on the man's face as he laughed in his mother's arms. The teen let out a shout and shook his head violently.

"Stay away! Dammit, get away from me-!" he smacked Kratos' hand away.

Kratos simply stood there as Lloyd ran out of the yard, the Seraph watching him sadly. Now what was he going to do? He…truthfully, he never intended for Lloyd to discover who he really was. It was better that way, he had thought, so that Lloyd wouldn't have to go through what he was going through now. Besides, Lloyd didn't need him…hadn't needed him for all those years where they were separated. This just proved it, anyhow.

Lloyd didn't need him or want him.

So it was he stood at the gate with Colette not an hour later, Colette informing her friends that Phaidra had requested they go to Dirk's house. Kratos said nothing, merely looked away from the group. Lloyd complied with Colette's wishes, eying Kratos warily.

"Yeah…let's go see Dad," he spat subtly.

Only thousands of years of stoic mannerisms stopped Kratos from uttering a sob right there.

The tension was noted, of course, by all present. Whispers had begun to come from the group other than the two swordsmen in question, all of them asking Genis and Raine in hushed whispers what exactly had happened. What had made this entire…mess, this tension, this….uneasiness. Though they didn't quite know what was going on, they knew enough to know that something was, in fact, going on.

"Lloyd!" Dirk smiled, seeing his adoptive son.

"Dad-!" Lloyd said instinctively.

He cut off, the word reminding him violently of the man behind him.

"I- Are you all right? Were you affected by the earthquake?" he asked, diverting his attention again.

He managed to keep this up until Dirk admitted Tethe'alla would be a better choice and then proceeded to offer them all the place for the night.

"I must politely decline," Kratos stated.

He left without another word.

"Uh…all right-" Dirk started.

Then they all noticed Lloyd had left as well.

"W- Wait-!" he shouted, catching the man just as he reached the bridge.

"…" Kratos didn't turn to look at him, "What is it?"

"I..um…" Lloyd hesitated, "you…"

"If you want to save the Chosen look up the records for the Ancient War," Kratos stated, "remember the words of the unicorn at Lake Ulmacy."

"I…but-"

"I'm leaving now-"

"No!" Lloyd blurted. "No, don't go-! You can't go!"

Kratos ignored him and continued walking. Lloyd growled violently, running forward and grabbing the man's shoulder.

"Stop ignoring me, dammit! You owe me an explanation-!"

"I told you, I'm not your-"

"You lying bastard!" Lloyd shouted at the top of his lungs. "Look at me- Damn it! Turn around and look at me-!"

Kratos did so, Lloyd's anger evaporating in an instant. The look on Kratos' face was heart-breaking, nothing short of it. His eyes were misted in remorse and his overall expression was enough to make one break down in tears. Lloyd stared at him, his mouth agape slightly. There was a long silence as they stared at each other and another memory flashed in his mind.

He had been sick, very sick, and Kratos had come to his bedside. This same look he had now was of pain, yes, but this same look had been given to him in pain before…pain as a result of his child. And-

The locket.

That pendant flashed vividly in his memory and Lloyd managed to speak.

"Let me see it," he whispered.

Before Kratos could ask he continued.

"The locket, let me see the locket," he said.

"…I-" the man began.

"Please, please…just let me see it…" he trailed.

Kratos slowly complied and pulled the locket out from under his shirt, slipping the chain off from over his head and handing it out to Lloyd. The boy took it and just as hesitantly opened it up. Silence reigned over them as he stared into it.

"…You are," he said simply, looking up at Kratos.

"…Yes," he admitted, closing his eyes.

"You…you really-"

"Lloyd, I-"

Kratos cut off and his eyes widened, shocked to such a point he was amazed he didn't have a heart-attack. Lloyd had all but tackled him in a hug, his arms crushing the angel as the brunette sobbed into Kratos' chest, clutching the locket in his hand.

"D- Dad-" he stammered, sobbing into the white fabric, "Dad-!"

"Lloyd-?" he started, stunned.

"I remember you- D- Dad-!" Lloyd managed to huff, his sobbing impeding his speech. "I remember- I remember you- I- I- I remembered all of it!"

"Lloyd…" Kratos whispered, his mind drawing a blank.

"Dad…Dad…" Lloyd whimpered, clinging him tightly, "Dad…dy…"

"….Lloyden-"

Lloyd's fist rammed into Kratos' gut. The man coughed out saliva as Lloyd withdrew from him, tears streaming down his face as he glared at his father.

"You have got some major explaining to- to do!" he shouted, attempting to calm his sobs.

Kratos could only stare at him, clutching his gut as Lloyd held the locket up to eye-level.

"You're going to tell me what' you've been doing," he said, his determination obvious despite his weak appearance, "You're going to tell me everything. Right now. Or I'm not giving this back!"

Is it…? Why yes. It is.

Multi-chaaaaaap! n.n

I'm not sure how well I pulled this off, though...but I had a good feeling about it. n.n'

Review? O.o'