*Ahem* Oh dear...it's been a while since I've posted anything on here. I'm so sorry to keep everyone waiting for updates on my story but I'm back now so...*Yeahy* One of the problems has been that this was the story I wanted to update first before updating one of my other stories and so I refused to start work on anything until I got this Chapter sorted because I wanted to give all of my dedication to this Chapter as I feel as if it is a very crucial piece of work- one of the most crucial I've ever done but now that's it's finished and now that I'm proud of it, I should be able to update one of my other stories (my 'Fire Emblem' one) very soon...hopefully.

So...Let me teach you an interesting bit of trivia (heh, see what I did there?), Leon actually has an official name provided in the manga adaptation of RF4 (yes, there actually is one, it's weird, the Guardians are rescued in a different order and all of them bar Dylas wake up from their Guardian forms without clothes on and- if I recall correctly, when Frey rescues Leon, Dylas covers her eyes with his hand to hide err...certain things from her view. Like I said, it's weird) and it's 'Leon Bastet VIII'. Yes, my Leon knowledge knows no bounds, I really do love him. =D And of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring this up at some point in this Collection but since it's such a unique bit of information that isn't easily found, I didn't want to just make it a shabby story which is why I put so much effort into making it good. A huge difficulty came from the fact that this is a FreyxLeon story, if it was an origin story for their characters or if it focused solely on Leon's past then it would've been easier however, I had to find a way to relate it to current-day Selphia and here is what I came up with. I hope you like it.

Oh, yeah, I should mention that this story takes place after they're engaged but before they're married however, this story does delve a little into their 'private lives', I was very particular with the language I used as I personally wouldn't feel very comfortable using the language to explain that sort of thing outwardly and so it should be suitable for the 'T' rating however I wanted to put a warning here anyway in case you really don't like any mention of that sort of thing no matter how small.

...P.S. The actual title for the Chapter is 'Remains of the Past Lead to a Promising Future' but it was too darn long for the title insert! =/

*Warning* Definite spoilers for Leon's marriage event.

*I own nothing to do with 'Rune Factory 4', its locations, characters etc.*

Rated T but does delve into mature topics but there is no actual mature content here and the language is very discreet and delicate so there's nothing here that should put you off but I wanted to warn you just in case.

Chapter Five: Remains of the Past Lead to a Promising Future

"I want this more than anything in the world, I'm not just doing this because of everything that has happened up until this point and I am not just rushing into this blind. If it wasn't for the fact that I was bound to my past, I would've done this a long time ago- I would've asked this of you shortly after we started dating because I wanted you to be mine and I wanted to be yours in return but I wasn't at liberties to ask but I am now and so I am asking you; will you marry me?"

Frey didn't move, didn't react, she was too startled by Leon's monologue to conjure up words suitable enough to be a decent reply to what he was asking of her. Her hand...in marriage?! It couldn't be…Leon was a flirt, a tease, a man who didn't like to have boundaries placed upon him and yet he was now asking for the chance to tie their hearts, their souls and their lives together for as long as they both should live? Impossible!

…And yet, Frey couldn't deny the fact that she wanted to say 'Yes' with all of her being. She loved Leon, she always had even when he teased and taunted her, even when he pushed her away or tried to protect her from things that she didn't need protecting from and even when she'd finally learned all about his secret; about his promise to Maria and she'd experienced first-hand the jealousy that comes with learning about the possibility that you might not be the only one with a claim on the heart of the one you wanted to spend the remainder of your days with. He'd only seen Maria as a sister but even when she'd learned that it didn't help because Maria had clearly wanted more and that had prevented her from aiding Leon when he needed her the most.

But thankfully, she'd finally been able to put her own selfish thoughts and desires aside in order to help Leon and thankfully it was worth it because now here he was- proposing to her and admitting that he'd wanted to for quite some time even when he wasn't allowed to.

Leon removed his hand from the top of her hand and turned to face away from her as he spoke up again, "It's embarrassing for me to admit but I guess…this is the best time to say all those embarrassing things that have been on my mind since the moment I met you because only one man can claim your hand in marriage and so I need to put my case forward in order to convince you to become mine."- He turned back to face her and smiled when he took in her stunned expression- "I-I want to be yours forever and I want you to be mine forever- no, I want us to be together for even longer than forever after all, it feels like it took me that long just to find you once and now that I have I never want to leave your side again. I want to wipe your tears away when you cry and make you smile. I want to show you all the amazing things that this world has to offer and protect you when you're in danger. I want to see you at your worst and be in awe of you when you're at your best and of course I want to tease you and see those cherry-red cheeks too…but most of all, no matter which life-time we find ourselves in, no matter what happens when we leave this life and no matter what happens during this life- I want to have the honour of vowing to be your husband. I want you to only have eyes for me in the same way that that is what you want from me. I want you, Frey, you're all I've ever wanted and all I will ever want and need. I've made a vow to protect you but please give me the chance to promise you even more than that and I will never let you down."

Despite the passionate speech he'd just given, Frey was still speechless. She took a step away from him and held her hands up; she couldn't bear to look at him in case there was any hurt or anger in his features. If he'd asked this of her at any other time during their nearly two-year-old relationship, she'd have said 'Yes' in a heartbeat so…what was the hold up?

"Frey?" He asked and his voice sounded uncharacteristically uncertain.

"How- How do I know that this isn't just some crazy reaction to what's just happened with Maria's letters? You've just promised her that you'll be happy but…how can you possibly know that being with me will make you happy how-"

She stopped talking when Leon took a step towards her and grasped her wrists in his large hands. She watched as he moved one of her hands towards his lips and took her glove between his teeth and started to pull it off slowly whilst staring intently into her eyes. When he'd removed both of the gloves he placed her hands against his cheeks- his skin was warm against her hands- he then moved them down his neck and finally moved them so they were resting against his chest; she could feel his heartbeat under her palm as he pulled her closer. He then moved his head so that he could whisper right into her ear:

"I love you, Frey."

She gasped audibly; he'd never said those three words to her before in all their time together even when she'd said it plenty of times to him.

"It's because I love you that I'd never just rush into anything without giving it some thought first- if I did and the consequences hurt you then I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. I wouldn't propose to you if I believed for a second that I'd regret it so…if that's your only reason for hesitating then please reconsider and if it isn't then stop trying to spare my feelings, I can handle it."

Before Frey was even aware of it, the word 'Yes' slipped out from between her lips whilst Leon was speaking but because she almost whispered it, he obviously didn't hear. Now she covered his mouth with her hands which Leon had previously released from his grasp whilst ranting.

"Yes, Leon, yes I will marry you."

Leon now appeared to be the one who was stunned into silence for a moment before he bent down to hug her and kiss her. When he pulled away, he murmured to her softly "I love you, Frey- with all of my heart and soul and from now on I will tell you that every day, you are my happiness, my future, my life and my everything and I have known that since the second I lay eyes on you when you came to my rescue. I have truly loved you since that moment- I was already smitten with you even then and I love you more than anyone else and will continue to do so for the rest of time and then some."

…And with that, Leon bent down to kiss her again and as the sun began to set over Leon Karnak, the now engaged couple looked towards the beginnings of their new lives together in which they promised to give to one another eternal happiness and love.

…

… …

… … …

As Frey recalled the moments leading up to her now becoming the fiancée of the town tease, she couldn't help but feel nervous and happy all at the same time.

It was now about three weeks since the engagement and they were still making preparations for the marriage. Leon had wanted to hold the service as soon as possible but Frey had wanted to wait until summer after all, Leon's birthday was in summer and she'd also rescued him from Leon Karnak during that season, it was special to her and even if he didn't want to admit it, it was special to him too.

Everyone in town was excited. Volkanon, Vishnal and Clorica were sorting out the majority of the service whilst Dolce was working on the dress. Porco and Dylas were taking on the food and Meg was working on the music. Flower arrangements were being done by Illuminata and Amber and everyone else was working hard on tying up loose ends and the few remaining bits and bobs.

Meanwhile, the lives of the 'husband and bride to be' had still been relatively the same even though the rest of the town were bursting with excitement at the prospect of a wedding. They'd gone on a couple of dates and had discussed both the wedding and its plans and also the honeymoon and Leon had begun to move his stuff from his room at the Inn to Frey's room in the Castle and they'd both worked out which double bed they wanted but other than that, their relationship hadn't changes much.

Well…it had changed in some ways; Leon was a lot less guarded around her and was more open to being affectionate. Frey was admittedly a little worried as she knew Nancy and Jones got a lot of stick for being too overtly lovey-dovey in public but when Leon's lips brushed against her own or when he purred those three words to her or when he held her hand tightly in his own whilst smiling down at her with warmth in his piercing gaze she forgot all about her concerns- for once, she was going to think of her own happiness and Leon was her happiness; she'd never forsake that no matter what.

She'd also changed too; she laughed more than ever and had come to enjoy all of the small things Leon did for her as well as the big things. She'd also become a lot more…aware of certain feelings she had for Leon. Feelings that caused a warm sensation to bubble low in her stomach, whenever he kissed her, she found herself wanting more which was strange since both of them used to be hesitant to kiss passionately like they had been doing recently. Before they'd become engaged, Frey had asked Leon about his reasons and he'd said:

"Well…whenever I kiss you, I don't want to stop and I fear that if I do kiss you then it'll reach the point when I can no longer resist the temptation and I don't want to be held responsible for tainting Selphia's totally adorable warrior princess now, do I?"

…Frey had had no idea what he meant by that but now having experienced her own uncontrollable desires, she had a better idea of what he'd meant when he had said that.

However, not all of her thoughts and experiences since becoming engaged had been quite so positive, this huge landmark in her life had brought up some past uncertainties that she'd long assumed she'd gotten rid of.

For example, when she'd been going around Selphia handing out invitations to all of her friends (not like that was necessary as they most probably would've already turned up regardless), she quickly realised just how few people she had to invite. Selphia was only a small town and she couldn't help but wonder how many invites she would've had to give out if only she could remember who she was before she lost her memories.

Another…more embarrassing example had been when she and Leon had discussed their state of erm…purity. Not like that had been the original discussion they were having, Frey had just been curious about if the idea of marriage had ever been something Leon had considered before. She'd found his response rather surprising:

…"No, not really. I mean, I just promised to marry Maria in order to cheer her up and as you found out, I forgot all about it until it was too late. Then after that I spent so much time training to be a priest and then eventually trying to come up with ways to save Venti that I never had the chance to be with someone in that way, let alone consider marrying them or starting a family. It's not like I wasn't open to the idea, I just…didn't get 'round to it."…

She'd then gone on to ask him- admittedly blushing and looking down at the floor of his room all the while- if that meant that he'd never been 'intimate' with someone before. His eyes had widened so much at that question that she'd worried that they were going to fall out of his skull! When he eventually answered after what seemed like an infinite amount of time had passed, he'd simply stated that no, he hadn't been err…'intimate' with someone before and no, it wasn't because he was a priest or anything, he wasn't that traditional and stuffy, yet again, it was just because he was so preoccupied with other more important things that he'd never found the time to indulge himself in such things. So if she was looking to him for any indication as to how it was all supposed to work in preparation for their 'wedding night', then she was going to turn to someone else to find out…but only through talking to them, not by putting it into practice- like she was that naïve!

Then of course- after being so embarrassed by her questions and the answers he'd had to give he'd wanted to turn the tables on her and so he asked her if she'd ever been with someone in that way to which she reluctantly admitted 'Not since coming to Selphia.' Before drifting off whilst trying in vain to recall if there was any possibility of her having been so before she'd fallen from an airship with no recollection of her past.

Looking back, it had pained her to not be able to give him a complete answer; she'd then had to ask a difficult follow-up question: "Would it change anything if I could remember that 'yes', I had been with someone in that way?"

Luckily, he'd told her it wouldn't have changed anything because it was in the past and she was now marrying him and that he trusted that if his own response to her question had been 'yes', I have been with someone in that way' that she would feel the same? Which of course she would, but then…another thought had cropped up in her head- a thought that she hadn't found the courage within herself to voice out loud to him- 'What if I was- and still technically am- already married to someone else?'…

Frey placed her hammer down onto her work surface, she'd been trying to craft something worthwhile for some time by this point but her recollection of that particular conversation sapped all of her willpower to carry on trying.

"I-I shouldn't be miserable, I should be happy- Leon wouldn't approve of seeing me so down about something like this…" She trailed off and stood in silence for a few minutes before plastering a huge grin on her face. "You know what? I should go and visit Leon- he's so busy working on that translation job for Arthur, if I'm not going to get any proper work done then I might as well take him some lunch, he'd like that."

…And so Frey set about preparing some grilled fish for the man who had promised to make her happy for the rest of eternity.

Leon was hard at work in his room, translating the rather long and dull text that had been given to him. He hadn't wanted to take the job on until after his wedding- and honeymoon since he had a feeling it'd take him a while however, Frey just had to go and open her big mouth and inform Arthur that'd she'd point-blank refused to go on her honeymoon with him until he'd gotten all of his current work done and the rest of his affairs in order, which then meant that since this job had been the last one he had left to tackle during his current bout of work that he'd been forced into taking it up and seeing it through to the bitter end.

Well…at least he'd gotten to choose the honeymoon location as recompense for Frey's involvement which in all honesty she didn't like one bit but it was his condition for agreeing to finish his work in the first place and she couldn't exactly say 'No' now, could she?

He was just sat there chuckling to himself when all of a sudden he heard the incoming sound of footsteps in the hallway; he knew who it was before she even burst through his door and he found himself beaming from ear to ear when he lay eyes on her. He honestly could not believe his luck- how had he come to claim the heart of the most genuine and adorable human being on the planet?

Frey sounded breathless as she bounded into his room carrying a parcel of food in her arms all the while smiling shyly at him. "I thought you might be hungry." She stated simply, he'd been expecting it as she'd said the same thing every time she'd come here whilst he was working on this particular job.

"Yes…I must say I am…"- He admitted before smiling coyly at her- "…But not for food."

She rolled her eyes at him but bent down to kiss him regardless- that had been his response to her every time she'd brought food for him. Since he was no longer shackled to his past, he saw no reason to hide his feelings for her anymore. Besides, teasing her was always a lot more fun when he got to be flirtatious about it.

However, beneath the surface, worry began to bubble inside of Leon's stomach, there was something incredibly important that he wanted to bring up with his future wife and he wasn't sure how she was going to react or respond but it was best to ask now…before the wedding, that way it wouldn't cause any complications later on.

She placed his food down on his table and he quickly unwrapped it and started to eat it- as the flavours began to overtake him, he found himself becoming distracted for a moment but despite that, his keen sense of hearing picked up on the small, defeated sigh that Frey made as she took a seat on the edge of his bed.

As he finished off his current bite of food he turned towards her and saw she was covering her face with her hands, her knees hunched in close to her chest- she looked uncharacteristically small and timid, strangely vulnerable…it hurt his heart seeing her like that. It was obvious to work out that she hadn't wanted him to see her looking so distressed but now that he had, he couldn't just ignore it.

He slowly moved over to sit next to her on the bed and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, she jumped slightly at the surprise contact and looked over at his food.

"It's going to go cold." She stated timidly.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Your point being…? How can I eat when something is clearly troubling you?"

"Troubled? I'm not troubled I-"- Her voice cut off as she began to sob. - "-I'm just fine."

Then she began to weep uncontrollably as she wrapped her arms tightly around Leon.

He held her like that for a while, rubbing his hand against her arm and making soothing sounds as she began to quieten down. Eventually, he couldn't hold back anymore and he asked her, "What's on your mind."

She remained silent apart from her few remaining sniffles.

He moved away from her a little so he could see her face better, he looked at her disapprovingly, "Now, now, Frey, don't keep secrets from me like that! I can't help you unless I know what's wrong."

So she told him all about her worries and concerns about the prospect of her previously being married and what that may mean for them as a couple.

"So that's it, Leon, that's what I'm so upset about. My past it…it's still a mystery even though so much has happened in my life since I lost all my memories of it. I have no family or if I do then they clearly aren't that concerned because no one has come looking for me nor has anyone here been able to find out anything about me. Apart from my first name and the fact I'm an Earthmate; everything else is still so uncertain, is my birthday really my birthday? Why am I dressed the way I am? Why do I look the way I do? I mean I don't even have a last name; all I have is my first name! If I just even knew my full name then I might be able to find out more about whom I was- who I am!

"I think about all I learned about your past and I know in a strange way that I should be grateful I can't remember my past but I aren't- there are people out there who would just give up so much to forget even for a day but with our wedding coming up I feel like I can no longer afford to not remember. I need to remember in case my past has any effect on you- on us. But I can't and I'm so sorry that I- I failed you so soon after it seemed like everything would be okay between us and…" She began to cry again and couldn't finish her thoughts. Her head still buried against Leon's chest she felt like such a fool and such a fraud, what if the person she used to be was nothing like the woman Leon fell in love with? There was so much agony burning within her soul- she didn't know how to cope with any of it.

There was just silence between them for a few minutes and Frey had no idea what that meant. Suddenly Leon began to do something…unexpected…

…He began to laugh.

"H-hey! This isn't funny Leon."

"S-sorry." – He said although he didn't sound very sincere. – "It's just you don't have to be worried about any of that."

"Wha-?! Why?!"

"Because regardless of whether or not you can remember your past it doesn't change where you are or who you are now. Yes, maybe you would've been different if all your memories had remained intact but the fact of the matter is they didn't which means that this person you are today…"- He placed his hand under her chin and turned her so she was facing him. – "This beautiful, kind, incredible woman is who you're meant to be. If you were married in the past, so what? You're marrying me now right? Would knowing that you were previously married change the fact that you want to marry me?"

She shook her head.

"See. You can't remember your friends and family, they're not here and until that changes- if it does- they won't be here to watch you grow even more than you already have done however, everyone in Selphia classes you as a friend- most of them even class you as family in one way or another- they celebrate your birthday even if it isn't your real one, they look out for you as is shown by what Xiao Pai did for you- for us and they've never treated you as an outsider or like you don't belong, have they?"

Again, Frey shook her head.

"-And as for your last name, that relates to something I've been meaning to bring up with you." He turned his head away and glanced at the glasses that she'd bought for him on one of their dates.

'…They're always together just like you and me…'

"W-what is it?" She asked, her curiosity piqued by his words.

But Leon just went off on a tangent. "Everyone has troubles; I have my troubles with the trauma I suffered during my time in the tower, with what seemed like a never-ending slumber. My troubles with Maria and coming to terms with the mistakes I made in that regard and you have yours with the lack of memories and all the things that have caused you pain that you can remember however, when we get married we won't have to bear our burdens alone anymore; we'll be linked through our vows to share the good, the bad and the ugly come what may."

Frey sat up straighter on his bed and tried to get a better look at his face. "What's your point?" She asked him, her curiosity masking her former sadness.

Leon hesitated, "Well…since we'll be sharing everything else, why don't we share a last name?"

She choked suddenly at what his words were implying. "Wha-!? Bu-but Leon, neither of us has a last name!"

"I do." Leon stated bluntly.

"Since when?!"

He turned to look at her then, a smirk playing at his lips. "Since before I even became a Guardian. My full name- Leon Bastet VIII- a full name that I never thought I'd be bringing up after leaving my original time; I just assumed that like every other aspect of my existence, it'd be lost to history after I passed on."

A spark of anger flashed across her features. "L-Leon, don't say things like that!"

"Heh, there's the fire I love so much. But…now that I'm getting married, now that I don't have an excuse to hide it at least from you, I'm asking you will you adopt the last name of 'Bastet' in the stead of what your last name may have used to be. You may not remember your family and- I'm so sorry for how harsh this is going to sound but- you may never find your family again or you may not have any to speak of anyway and I may have wanted for my last name to disappear alongside me but now we have a chance to take that name and create our own family- to give it a sense of importance and significance that it's never had before to either you or me."

"Frey Bastet." She whispered as she was transported to a vision of their future together- under that name they could work hard to give it purpose- to give it form and maybe pass it on to their children if they had any. A symbol of their unity, their hopes for the future and a nod to their pasts as different and as similar as they were.

Leon moved suddenly and Frey yelped as she found herself laying on his bed with Leon looming above her. He bent down and nibbled at her ear before murmuring in a tone of voice that promised danger and intrigue and fun and beauty- that sultry deep voice of his, "So what do you think, Princess? An ode to the past and a promise of a future together?"

She placed her hands on his chest and turned to press a kiss against her cheek. "I think it's the best idea you've ever had, Leon, I accept that name and I accept your heart for always and forever."

Da-dah! It's done and dusted. Thank you for being so patient with me, I hope to start updating things properly again but I'm more busy than I've ever been before and my priority now is my 'Fire Emblem' story because I've kept so many people waiting with that one which is a horrible thing to do and I'd hoped to never disappoint people in that way but alas, I have done and now I need to put it right. But, if you carry on being patient with me, an update for this story will materialise in the future. Until next time. xXx