The years seemed to fly by after that. Nothing was really different. Cor and I were still together, though we didn't get as much time together as before.

"It's not often you get a day off like this, Dawn. Are you really going to be falling asleep on us the entire time?" Jenny asked. I yawned as I opened my eyes.

"I don't mean to, Jenny. It's like you said, it's not often I get a day off like this. I do a lot of early mornings and late nights." I said. Jenny giggled.

"Who ever would have guessed that you'd be a crownsguard? I still remember you being a bully in middle school." Jenny said.

"Hey, I was in a rough patch and I was doing the only thing I knew to cope." I said. Jenny patted my legs

"I know, D. But still. You get a lot of respect from the guys. Jett is always going on about the drills you put him through." Jenny giggled. Jenine had married Jett Banks last year. They were planning on kids, so Jett's mind had been else where during work.

"Not my fault that he's distracted. If he'd pay attention I wouldn't have to be so harsh on him." I said.

"Dawn, you do know that we're not at war anymore." Valencia said. I sighed.

"I know, Val. But we're not exactly at peace with Niflheim. We're starting to get reports from hunters about their magiteks roaming the lands of Duscae. Reggie- I mean, King Regis is starting to think about sending scouts to check it out. I say it's about time we move and get those freaky robots out if they are trying to map out our land." I said.

"I'll admit it, Dawn. I always thought you'd be that thug girl that never grew up. And now here you are. A trusted Kingsglaive to the king. Vic always says that you're so dedicated and serious at work. Don't you have a lover of your own?" Valencia asked. I thought of Cor and felt a blush fly to my face.

"Well... I wouldn't call us lovers..." I said. Jenny and Val both gaped at me and I blushed, looking away.

"Would you wipe those looks off of your face?" I asked.

"Wait, for real? You have a guy, Dawn?" Jenny asked.

"Is it really that hard to believe?" I asked.

"Um, do you not remember what happened with Devin Adams in high school?" Jenny said.

"I remember Devin just fine. He was a jerk that though he was the lead of Shakespeare's Taming of The Shrew and he thought I was his shrew. I don't regret biting his hand. Besides, he's not Cor- oh shit." I said.

"Oh. My. Bahamut. Cor. You're dating Cor Leonis. Cor the Immortal." Jenny said.

"Yeah, turns out if you cut his arm, he bleeds like a regular human." I sighed.

"What, were you trying to keep it a secret?" Val asked.

"From you two, yes." I said.

"Why?" Jenny asked.

"Because you gossip and Val tells you everything." I said. I sat back in my chair.

"Well, whatever, I guess that coerul's out of the bag now." I sighed. Jenny was about to unload questions on me, but Val interrupted.

"I actually have something to tell you guys." She said. I opened one eye and looked at her.

"What's up, Val?" I asked.

"Victor proposed last night. We're getting married!" She said. I thought back.

"Oh, that's what he was staring at so intensely." I said.

"Huh?" Val asked.

"Yeah, as he was leaving work yesterday, he was staring at something in his hand and almost walked in to a wall. I caught him before he did. I was wondering why he was so nervous. He must have been staring at your ring." I said. Val showed us the ring.

"Damn, that's a pretty one." I said. Jenny nodded with me.

"It's so pretty, Val!" Jenny said.

"Hey, Dawn... you'll be my maid of honor, right?" Val asked. I sat up properly and pointed at myself.

"Sure, Val. Give me the date and I'm sure His Majesty will let me have it off." I said. Val smiled brightly up at me.

—

I smiled as I watched Val and Victor go off for their honeymoon.

"A very sweet couple." Regis said. I nodded.

"Yup. It's about time they married. They've been together since I met Val." I said. Regis nodded.

"I believe your lover is waiting for you." Regis said and nodded to where Cor stood, glancing at me as another lady flirted with him. I smirked, deciding to go and save my boyfriend.

"I'll talk to you later, Reg. Cor looks like he needs a rescue." I said. I walked up to Cor and stepped between him and the other lady. Oh, look at that, it's Carlott Odessa.

"There you are. I was wondering where you disappeared to." I said to him. Cor smiled down at me.

"I saw you speaking with His Majesty and figured it was important and let you be." He said. I waved my hand.

"Nah, just talking about the lovely newlyweds." I said.

"Excuse you. We were having a discussion." Carlott said. I ignored her.

"You look beautiful, Mercy." Cor said. I smiled at him.

"You're one to talk." I said with a wink. He leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"Hey!" Carlott grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. Cor frowned at the action. Carlott paled when she saw my face.

"Sorry, did you need something, Miss?" I asked. Carlott quickly shook her head.

"N-no! I'm s-sorry." She said and ran away. I chuckled and turned back to Cor.

"Her nose never did fully heal." I said.

"What?" He asked.

"Oh, I punched her in the face in high school for trying to wreck Vic and Val's relationship. Called Val a slut, so I punched her in the nose." I said.

"Dawn." Cor scolded.

"Hey, I didn't mean to break her nose, I was only aiming to bruise." I said. He sighed.

"Hey, you remember what I was like when we met. A street rat. A fighter." I said.

"Yes, but I thought you'd grown out of the phase where you'd be proud of it." He said.

"Cor, the only people I'm proud of putting a smack down on are Carlott and You." I said. He blushed.

"You didn't win that fight."

"Only cause Duratos caught my fist. I seem to remember knocking you on your ass." I said. He wrapped his arm around my waist.

"And it was when you were standing over me that I realized you'd be significant in my life." He said and kissed my head. I smiled and rested my head on his chest.

"And I realized the same when you were comforting me after I met my mother." I said.

"I love you." He whispered in my ear.

"I love you." I whispered back. My arms wound around his waist and I inhaled his scent.

Funny, four years ago he and I would have been glaring each other down in this situation. Now here we were, holding each other and me enjoying it.

Funny how time can change a person.

—

I watched as Jenny's two year old, Emmalee, walked around the area. She tripped and fell forward. My hand shot out and I caught the baby before she fell. She looked up at me and I winked at her. She giggled and crawled about.

"Are you sure you want to leave, Val?" Jenny asked as she helped Val pack up.

"Victor believes it would be a good idea for the baby to grow up in his aunt's home." Valencia said.

It had been two years since Val and Vic had married. Valencia had found she was pregnant and Victor claimed he wanted his child to grow up out side the wall.

But I knew the truth. Regis has told Cor, Clarus, Cid and I all about the prophecy of the King of Light and The Shifter.

See, the family Victor belongs to, the Schwartz family, had a special magic. It was essentially teleportation, but it was called shifting magic. Since Regis wasn't marked as the King of Light, that meant that Vic wasn't the Shifter in the prophecy. He was terrified that his child was going to be this Shifter of the prophecy and he wanted to train them for their powers and abilities out of the kingdom, keep them a secret.

Jenny didn't know any of this. Val knew and I knew she knew I knew. She had wanted me to help her pack so we could talk, but when Jenny heard Val was leaving, she insisted to help.

Emmalee started to cry for her mother and Jenny took her baby to go clean up the baby, leaving Val and I alone.

"Do you think that Vic is right? That you're kiddo's going to be this legend?" I asked. Val shrugged.

"It's a scary thought. When Vic showed the prophecy to me..." she said. I couldn't blame her. The end of the prophecy was something to fear.

...with the Shifter's sacrifice at the side of the King of Light, the Usurper shall end and light shall return to Eos. So says Bahamut.

The voice echoed in my head, making me shiver. I took a breath and held Val's hand.

"Things will be okay, Val. I know they will." I said. Val nodded.

"Dawn, you'll look out for my baby, won't you?" She asked. I squeezed her hand.

"Yeah, I will." I said. She closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Hey, don't start crying. That's not good for the baby." I said. She chuckled at me.

"I'll miss you, Dawn." She said.

"Hey, you can always text me." I said. She nodded. Jenny came back in and we finished packing up and loading in to the moving truck.

"Bye, Jenny. Bye, Dawn. Thank you for everything." Victor said.

"Be careful out there, Vic!" Jenny said. I bumped my fist to Victor's.

"Take care of yourself, aye? See ya when ya decide to come back." I said and smiled. He laughed at me and he and Val climbed in to the truck. They drove off.

If I had known that would be the last time I ever saw Victor or Valencia, I never would have let them go.