He snapped out of a daydream it seemed, staring out the window at his daughter and wife, a smile tugging at his lips, then quickly faded. Looking down at the paper in his hand, he still hadnt told his wife he was called back. The little one playing in the stream near by, the mother sitting on the bank, watching their daughter prance and play. They meant everything to him, everything he had to protect. A heartfilled sigh and he walked out the back door, an ear flicked as he walked over, almost disgraced to look at them, his eyes constantly glancing at the ground on either side of the woman he loved.  She stood up from the bank and tilted her head lightly at him, knowing something was wrong. She walked over to him, tipping his chin up with her fingers, and still, he wouldnt look at her. They could hear their girl playing still in the water, almost as if she didnt hear her father come out of the house.

"Whats wrong..." She searched his face the a reason for him to act like this. She sighed and ran her hands down his arms, stopping at his hands as she felt the paper, which she almost had to pry from his fingers. Taking a step back, she read the paper over, giving her head a weak shake. "But they said-.." She started, only to be cut off. "They lost too many. They need me." He said flatly, unimpressed, disheartened. "They're closer then they were before Ali... They're basically on the shores. I cant let them get to you two." The priestess was shaking a bit, then moved to sit on a nearby rock. She didnt have much else to say, which bothered him, worried him too. Finally a soaking wet little girl ran over and threw her arms around her daddy's waist, tilting her head back and smiling wide, one of her front teeth missing. Ignoring how wet she was, he scooped her up, and pressed his nose to her shoulder, hugging her tightly. She giggled sweetly and squirmed. "Daddy! Too tight!" She squealed happily.

His fingers sought out and tickled at her sides, making her squrim and laugh loudly, a few minutes of this made Ali smile, and Cid too. He set her down and kissed her forehead, wearing a serious look, which made the seven year olds face drop like a rock. "Daddy hasta go baby..." Her eyes narrowed and she looked at her mother, almost as if she didnt believe it, then spun her face to him again, her already long hair fanned when she did. "You cant!" She cried out, stomping her foot. "You promised you werent going anymore!" He knelt down and took her hands. "This is the last time.." Before he could get in another word, she jumped in, definatly his child. "Daddy you're lying! You always say this is the last time! But you cant leave anymore, daddy, you're mine!" She pulled herself to him and wrapped her tiny arms around his waist.

Ali closed her eyes, turning her face away from her disappointed child. He sat on the grass and curled his daughter tightly in his arms. She kissed his cheek lovingly as he took her into his arms. The knock came to the front door, they were here already. Something wasnt right. He stood up, still holding Luciellen. Moving through the house, he opened the door, two of his team mates, standing there. One grabbed his arm roughly, using his weight to yank him away from the door. The other pryed the child away, setting her back just inside the doorway, having to keep an eye on her. Cid yelled at the two, but it was almost as if it fell on deaf ears, the hooked their hands under his arms and started to drag the struggling man. Luci screamed and tried to go after him, only to be held back by her mother, who whispered something into her daughters ears, causing the girl to break down into tears. Cidolfas fought and struggled against the two dragging him off to the field, the sounds of his daughter sobbing, crying out for him, echoed in his head...

Sitting up in a dead sweat, he peeled his clothing away from his skin, he swung his feet over the bed, pulling his shirt off and tossing it to the corner. The sobbing, the crying, his daughter, he realized how real it really was. He got up quickly and picked up the baby from the cradle at the end of the bed. Alistair sat up, and he shook his head, motioning for her to lay back down. She did so, and the baby calmed, hiccuping in her fathers arms. He sighed and took a seat in the rocking chair, holding his little girl close, trembling from the almost too vivid dream. "I promise you Luci... I wont go" He whispered, the baby closed brilliant eyes one a bright silver, the other a deep gold and drifted back off in her fathers arms. In the darkness, he clung to her, tears creeping into his eyes, and quickly wiped away with his free hand. He remembered the lullaby Ali had sung to her on many sleepless nights, and nervously, started humming it to her.