My Light

e i g h t e e n

I wake up to the sight of my husband still sleeping beside me, and I smile as I remembered what had happened last night. I didn't want to leave the spot and I thought about having sleep take over me once more, but knowing the others, they would barge in and see Noctis and I covered in the sheets with our clothes on the ground. I slowly and carefully get out of bed and take a quick shower. I walk out of the bathroom and get dressed in my undergarments first, then my usual attire. I turn to the bed to see Noctis still sleeping peacefully on the king sized bed. I walk over to him and try to wake him up. When he finally wakes up, he pulls me down on top of his body that was still covered in sheets. "Noctis, we gotta get going. The others will be up here any minute to collect us." I say to him and he sighs. "You're right." he says letting me go and he sits up. I suddenly see something on the nightstand catch my eye. I see a black ring with a diamond in the middle surrounded by an intricate design and immediately, I recognize it as the Ring of Lucii. "How did you get it?" I ask Noctis and he turns to see me grab the ring as I turn to look at him. "Luna.... She appeared to me in a vision saying her goodbye to me and her blessing of our marriage. That's when she gave me the ring." he says and I frown as I stare at the ring and think of Luna.

"I miss her." I say as I look down now.

"I know, Aura." Noctis says wrapping his arms around my waist and holding me tightly, and I enjoy his comfort.

After Noctis was dressed, we make our way down to the lobby hand in hand. We see the others and give them small smiles. "Ready?" Aileen asks us and we both nod and walk to the docks where Cid was waiting for us. As we neared the docks, I stop in my tracks and look out to the ocean. I close my eyes and feel the breeze around me, 'Luna, I know you're listening, and I also know you watch over Noctis and I. Keep us in your care. We miss you dearly.' I thought in my mind. "Aura." I hear Noctis call me, and I open my eyes to look at him. "You ok?" he asks me as he caresses my cheek. "I'm fine." I say with a reassuring smile and peck his lips. He embraces me tightly as I feel a tear roll down my cheek. "I know." he says and I pull away to look at him as he wipes the tear away from my cheek. We take one last look at the city, then we board the boat together.

*~*~

*Several weeks later*

We were in the train, just watching the scenery go by. I sat by Noctis with our hands interlocked and my head on his shoulder feeling a bit nauseous. "You feeling alright, Aurie?" Akiko asks looking at me in concern. "Yeah. I just feel nauseous and tired." I say and Noctis rubs his thumb along my hand. I knew he was still upset about Luna's passing, so was I, but that wasn't on my mind as much as before. What's on my mind is this damn sickness! "So... we're gonna roll through Tenebrae." Prompto says and I take a deep breath. "Not before visiting the royal tomb in Cartanica." Ignis says and I look at him. "You're sure your up to that?" Prompto asks him concerned about Ignis' blindness. "The wounds have mended. Eyesight's a matter of time." Ignis says and I lay my head on Noctis' shoulder once more, and tighten my grip on his hand as Noctis stays silent. "The hell is wrong with you?" Gladio asks and I look at him as he stares at Noctis, and Noctis looks at him. "What?" he asks sounding a bit cold. "We're not stopping in Tenebrae. You need to grow up and get over it." Gladio tells him. "I am over it, aren't I? I'm just doing this for Aura." Noctis says standing up and walking up to Gladio. Gladio grabs Noctis by his shirt and I look at them with a frown and wide eyes. "Maybe when you're not too busy moping, you can look around and give a shit about someone worse off than you." Gladio tells him. "Aura's getting over it, or at least trying. But you... You always blame yourself." Gladio says and I look down for a moment, then back at the two.

"Let go of me..." Noctis warns him.

"How's that ring fit ya? You'd rather carry it around than wear it?" Gladio asks him. "She gave her life so you could do your duty and save your wife, not so you could sit around feeling sorry for yourself." Gladio tells him.