*We last left our heroes returning to the castle after a battle with Thorn, and Thorn is in quite a state. They disembark from The Destiny, and Tifanel carries Thorn to his room and puts him on the bed. The others stand around the bed.*
Kuja: Who was it that put drinks on the dash of my airship? People, what do you think beverage caddies are for?
Lierlo: Kuja…. now is not the time.
Tifanel: D'ya think Thorn is gonna be okay?
Lierlo: Only time will tell, I suppose.
Kuja: *Goes over to Laurenza.* Are you okay? You didn't say a word whilst we on the airship.
Laurenza: ...
Kuja: *Puts his hand on her shoulder and lifts her head up to face him.* C'mon, tell old Kuja what's the matter.
Laurenza: ...
Kuja: The silent treatment...
Tifanel: Maybe she's lost her voice?
Kuja: Come on, talk to me.
Laurenza: I.... I tried to kill him...
Bo: He tried to kill us...
Kuja: You were only protecting yourself.
Laurenza: He was already down and I hit him again... The spell I used... I only let it charge 3/4 of the way, because I didn't have the nerve to give him the full blast of it... What would have happened if I did?
Kuja: Forget about what might've been, and focus on what is. He's still alive. That's all that matters.
Lierlo: Hmm, I just hope he's going to be all right...
Bo: If what that Dark Angel said was true...
Tifanel: Poor Thorn...
Laurenza: *Puts a blanket over Thorn.* Maybe we should leave him in peace, so he can get some rest.
Tifanel: Righto. *Walks out, followed by Lierlo.*
Bo: I'm going outside for a while. *Walks out.*
Kuja: *To Laurenza.* Don't worry yourself, I'll bet he'll be just fine in no time at all. Come on, let's go with the others.
Laurenza: Okay. *They both leave.*

*That night, quite late, Kuja is heading towards Laurenza's room. He opens the door and goes in, leaving it very slightly ajar. The action centres outside of the door, as if we are seeing it from someone else's point of view that is opposite the door. We can hear what is going on inside Laurenza's room.*
Laurenza: *Sleepily.* Kuja, what are you doing in here?
Kuja: I had a bad dream. Mamma, can I sleep with you tonight?
Laurenza: *Laughs.* No Kuja, you're a big boy now. But if you're good and go back to your own bed, maybe I'll tuck you in and read you a story.
*There is a sound of shifting quilts.*
Laurenza: Hey Kuja, get out!
Kuja: Oh, but my room is so cold, and your bed is so warm...
Laurenza: I know what you're trying to do...
Kuja: *Innocently.* What am I trying to do?
Laurenza: My husband is unable to do anything, so you've picked this moment to make your move.
Kuja: Maybe... *Shifting sound again.* Mmm... soft!
Laurenza: Kuja, get off!
Kuja: Oh, but you looked so lonely...
Laurenza: You're taking advantage of me. I'm a married woman. This isn't right.
Kuja: Come on, I've seen you and Thorn together. You're as cold as two slabs of stone and just as intimate.
Laurenza: *Wearily.* Things have been hard for us. The circumstances haven't been in our favour, what with fighting Demons and falling out with each other...
Kuja: 'Falling out?'
Laurenza: Kuja, it's not like that...
Kuja: He's not even all that good looking. He's got that whole 'gothic creature from Hell' look going on.
Laurenza: *Laughs.* What about you, make up boy?
Kuja: Meh. Women wear trousers. So, what's so good about Thorn, then?
Laurenza: What's so good about you?
Kuja: Well, in alphabetical order, I'm Available, Beautiful, Charming, Debonair, Elegant...
Laurenza: ...Bigheaded.
Kuja: We've had 'B', dear. When was the last time you and Thorn just talked like this?
Laurenza: I told you, things have been hard for us.
*Shifting sound again.*
Laurenza: Kuja, what are you doing?
Kuja: Why don't you ditch him?
Laurenza: Kuja, get off me...
Kuja: If you want me to move, move me.
*Silence for a moment.*
Kuja: I take it you don't want me to move, after all?
Laurenza: Warm and lazy....
*Silence again, for several minutes.*
Laurenza: We shouldn't have done that, Kuja. This is wrong.
Kuja: Then why'd you kiss me for so long?
Laurenza: Kuja…
Kuja: Remember that summer when I first came to the castle?
Laurenza: *Reminisces.* I remember…
*One thing leads to another and Kuja and Laurenza do that thing.*

*The next morning, Kitzie is jumping on Bo again to wake him up.*
Kitzie: Wake up! Wake up!
Bo: This time I swear that door was locked...
Kitzie: I came in through the window. *Grins.*
Bo: Kitzie, can I tell you something?
Kitzie: Yeah.
Bo: I got a message from my wife last night. My homeland's in trouble, and I'll have to leave this world soon.
Kitzie: Bo-Bo has to go soon... *Jumps up and down on the bed.* I don't want Bo-Bo to go!
Bo: Kitzie, I'm really sorry, but I'm needed. I can't ignore them.
Kitzie: Okay... I understand.
Bo: I just feel really guilty. I promised the others I would be here to fight with them, and now...
Kitzie: But your friends are in trouble! You gotta save them, Bo! We'll be all right here... we've got each other.
Bo: I guess you're right, I just wanted to be sure; you're the only one I can really talk to here.
Kitzie: I like Bo-Bo cos he's furry too.
Bo: Oh, well, thanks. Well, I'm gonna say goodbye to everyone and then I'm gonna go.
Kitzie: Everybody should be awake now. I jumped on them all. *Grins.*
Bo: Yes... okay. *Leaves the room.*

*The gang are all having breakfast in the dining hall downstairs.*
Bo: *Enters the hall.* Err...guys, I kinda have an announcement. I'm headed back home. My friends are in a bit of trouble and they need me...
Laurenza: That's a shame to hear. We'll miss you, Bo.
Lierlo: You were quite a fighter, however, your place is back in your homeland. You should go and help your friends.
Bo: I'll see you again, I'm sure of that.
*Kitzie comes down the stairs.*
Kitzie: Bye bye, Bo...
Bo: Bye Kitzie...
*She runs up to him and kisses him on the cheek.*
Bo: *Blushes.*
Kitzie: *Giggles.*
Bo: I'll see you soon, everybody.
Laurenza: Bye now.
Lierlo: Fare thee well.
Kitzie: Buh bye.
Kuja: ...See ya.
Tifanel: So long.
*Bo vanishes with a wave of his paw and a flash of yellow light.*
Tifanel: Ooh err, Kitzie.
Kuja: *Sings.* "And they called it puppy love..."
Kitzie: Shut up... He was the dog of my dreams...
Lierlo: Kitzie, he's too old for you.
Kitzie: And he's married...
Kuja: Oh well, I'm sure there's plenty more dogs in the pound.

*Later on, Laurenza is walking through the castle and is approached by Kuja.*
Kuja: Greetings, enchantress of the Entrance Hall.
Laurenza: What do you want this time, Kuja?
Kuja: Well, I burnt my tongue on some hot tea this morning and I was hoping you could kiss it better. *Grins.*
Laurenza: You cheeky git. *Pushes him out the way and walks on, but he follows*
Kuja: Oh, but Laurenza, my arms ache... Maybe they'll feel better if I swung them around you?
Laurenza: *Shakes her head.* Kuja... you have to stop this. I'm married
Kuja: Leave him. Come with me. You know you want to.
Laurenza: I couldn't just leave him. Imagine how he'd feel. Imagine what he'd do...
Kuja: Is that the only reason you're with him? To keep him from going homicidal? But he seems to do that even when you're with him... *Puts his arms around her and pulls her close.* Come on, do something that you want to do.
Laurenza: Kuja, stop it! This is wrong! Stop it now!
Kuja: Yes, I'm a bad boy... Tell me I'm a bad boy... Beat me, whip me, punish me...
Lierlo: *Just happens to be passing. He sees what is going on and rushes in.* Kuja, you pervert! Get off her! *Pushes Kuja away from her and punches him hard in the face.*
Kuja: *Falls back, his lip cut and bleeding. He wipes the blood off his face and stands up.* Oh, I'm so gonna get you for that... *Charges fire Magick in both hands.*
Laurenza: *Slaps Kuja and he stops charging the Magick.* Get out of here!
*Sore and angry, Kuja storms off.*
Lierlo: Laurenza, are you okay?
Laurenza: Oh, Lierlo! *Bursts into tears and leans on his shoulder, sobbing into his shirt.*
Lierlo: He didn't try and rape you, did he?
Laurenza: No, no it's not that... I'm in such deep trouble.
Lierlo: What? What's wrong?
Laurenza: *Sobs.* I think I'm still in love with Kuja.
Lierlo: You can't be serious… What about Thorn?
Laurenza: *In a burst of emotion.* Recently I've been getting this cold, prickly feeling inside when I'm around Thorn, like I'm afraid. And I am, I'm afraid of him and what he might do... And now Kuja's back, I remember the times we shared when we were together, and I feel warm and safe. Back then I thought it was just a fling, but now I question myself. Maybe what I had with Kuja was special and I moved too quickly with Thorn. Maybe I was just infatuated with him, like I was with Levanté and Vallisto and all the others... Maybe I don't love him at all!!
Lierlo: *Looks worried.* Oh Laurenza...
Laurenza: And last night, I had sex with Kuja... unprotected sex.
Lierlo: Oh dear… You don't think you're... you're not, are you?
Laurenza: I don't know! But there's always the chance I might be!
Lierlo: This is a huge mess, Laurenza...
Laurenza: I know, you don't have to tell me.
Lierlo: Perhaps you should wait a few days and then see a doctor or something?
Laurenza: I'll figure something out.
Lierlo: In the meantime, try and stay away from Kuja.
Laurenza: Okay... Thank you, Lierlo. *She leaves and goes upstairs.*

*Laurenza enters. Thorn's room and sits down on the chair next to his bed and looks over him.*
Laurenza: *Sighs.* I'm so messed up... I envy you, Thorn. You look so peaceful...
Thorn: You...
Laurenza: You're awake?
Thorn: ...Should have killed me...
Laurenza: I couldn't... Aren't you glad that I didn't?
Thorn: I did it again... Did I lose control…?
Laurenza: We all do sometimes...
Thorn: How long have I been... gone?
Laurenza: A day or so.
Thorn: I've been healing... Trying to get some Magick back, but…
Laurenza: So are you going be okay?
Thorn: I don't know...
Laurenza: Oh...
Thorn: It will be okay... The... new one…
Laurenza: The... new one?
Thorn: *Reaches out and touches her stomach.* The new life...
Laurenza: *Jumps back.* You know?!
Thorn: I can sense it.
Laurenza: Oh god, oh god...
Thorn: Don't worry. I'm not mad...
Laurenza: Why not?
Thorn: Firstly, too tired... but you deserve forgiveness... not like me...
Laurenza: I don't deserve any forgiveness. I've been a bad girl...
Thorn: We all are sometimes...
Laurenza: I know you say you don't deserve it, but something... something makes me want to forgive you.
Thorn: Don't...
Laurenza: But I almost killed you too. Don't forget that!
Thorn: I don't... it's all here... with me... the pain, but there's so much, I can't deal with forgiveness.
Laurenza: Well... if you say so...
Thorn: None of you should begin to forgive me for what I did. First I have to forgive myself…
Laurenza: I should... I should tell the others that you have woken up... and... and tell them... *Pats her stomach and leaves.*
*It sounds like she bumps into Kuja half way down the hall. They talk for a moment.*
Kuja: HOLY CRAP!

*Laurenza then goes to find the others. Soon the gang are assembled in Thorn's room.*
Laurenza: Hey hey, I don't think he'll appreciate a crowd of people gawping at him.
Lierlo: We just want to know if he is all right.
Tifanel: Yo Thorn, s'up?
Thorn: I should be asking you lot that question...
Kuja: We're just dandy…
Thorn: Where is Bo?
Kitzie: He had to go home... *Looks sad.*
Thorn: Oh...
Lierlo: Well, it's good to see you're awake, Thorn.
Thorn: Yeah...
Kuja: *Nudges Laurenza.* Aren't you going to tell the rest of them?
Laurenza: Well, Thorn already knows, you know and Lierlo kind of know...
Tifanel: Know... what?
Laurenza: No, it doesn't matter...
Tifanel: Fine, don't tell me then.
Kuja: All right! I banged Laurenza up good and she got pregnant! Happy?!
Tifanel: Oh...
Kitzie: Renzy's going to have Creepy Guy's baby...?
Thorn: What…?