*Kuja is waiting outside for Thorn in the corridor, leaning against the wall.*
Kuja: Been playing Happy Families?
Thorn: Yeah.
Kuja: Is he okay, then?
Thorn: He's sleeping.
Kuja: Good.
Thorn: *Steps towards Kuja.* So, I guess we're alone now, then.
Kuja: Free to do whatever we want. Needlepoint, watercolour painting, whittling...
Thorn: *Passionately kisses Kuja.*
Kuja: Or... there's always that. *Kisses him back then looks into his eyes.* I love you.
Thorn: You always were a man of great words.
Kuja: Yes, well. Everyone seems to be using that certain three-worded phrase at the moment. I suppose it's the 'in' thing.
Thorn: You were listening...?
Kuja: Was I not supposed to be?
Thorn: No, it's okay.
Kuja: It's kind of weird suddenly finding out you have a child, isn't it?
Thorn: Yes, it is. But... I feel like I've known him for a long time.
Kuja: Yeah, same with Ana and me. I guess it's because there's some of us in them.
Thorn: Yeah, I never thought of that.
Kuja: *Sighs.*
Thorn: What is it?
Kuja: Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about Laurenza.
Thorn: How were you thinking about her, exactly?
Kuja: Let's see, mainly 'bitch bitch bitch bitch.'
Thorn: I'm sorry.
Kuja: It's not your fault she can't accept that I've moved on.
Thorn: Maybe it is… I came to this castle to help Laurenza originally, but everything I've done... it just seems I make her life worse...
Kuja: But wasn't most of the bad stuff Ares' fault? Let's just blame everything on Ares.
Thorn: *Smiles.* Okay...
Kuja: Come on, you've done some pretty good stuff here, like... uh, putting up those shelves. Wait, no. That was Tifanel.
Thorn: *Laughs.*
Kuja: Well, regardless of what you've done, right now, I'm glad you came...
Thorn: I bet you are...
Kuja: As glad as Kitzie with a fresh pair of Tifanel's socks. *Hugs and kisses him.*
Thorn: Mmm, you're gorgeous.
Kuja: I know.
Thorn: And vain.
Kuja: I know...
Thorn: *Smiles.*
Kuja: But when you're this good looking, you have an excuse. *Grins.* Well, don't leave you out of this. You're something of a looker yourself, you know?
Thorn: If you say so. Not everyone appreciates the 'gothic creature from hell' look.
Kuja: Uh… *Looks somewhat embarrassed.*
Thorn: What?
Kuja: I… suppose the GCfH look has grown on me.
Thorn: I hope so.
Kuja: *Shrugs.* It's probably better than the skinny girly-boy look.
Thorn: You know, you can change your 'look' whenever you want.
Kuja: *Looks down at himself.* It's the way I've always dressed. I don't know what else I'd look this good in.
Thorn: Why not try?
Kuja: Hmmm, I might. *Puts on a teenage girl type voice.* Oh my god, what am I going to wear?
Thorn: *Laughs.*
Kuja: Imagine you're my fashion guru. Okay, I'm walking down the catwalk. What do you picture me in?
Thorn: The things you're wearing now. You're perfect whatever you're wearing.
Kuja: Aw, stop. You're making me feel all gooey inside and it's very sickly sweet.
Thorn: Gooey, eh?
Kuja: It doesn't have to be gooey; it could be mushy, or sticky.
Thorn: Okay, scary visual place.
Kuja: Okay, I wasn't thinking that. Until now. Thank you very much.
Thorn: *Smiles.*
Kuja: So, you don't mind what I wear then? Platform shoes? A fez? A poncho?
Thorn: No. *Touches Kuja's cheek.* As long as you keep your face.
Kuja: *Smiles.* Aww, that's nice. You're a real compliment machine today. *Suddenly starts laughing.* Sorry, I was just picturing myself wearing all that lot. I feel obliged to say something nice to you in return. Um... *In a babyish voice.* You're pwetty!
Thorn: Err... if you insist.
Kuja: Flattery's not my thing, eh? I think I'll just stick with the intimacy. *Kisses him again.*
Thorn: Hmm... Now that you're good at.*As Thorn and Kuja are kissing, Lahrne comes out of his room and sees them.*
Lahrne: *Stares open-mouthed at them.*
Thorn: *Breaks away from Kuja.* Lahrne...
Lahrne: *Runs back to his room.*
Thorn: *Goes in after him.*

*Lahrne is sitting on his bed, staring blankly at the wall.*
Thorn: *Comes in.* I'm sorry you had to see that...
Lahrne: ...
Thorn: I know it must be difficult to understand... but you don't have to worry about it. This... doesn't change anything.
Lahrne: But...
Thorn: What?
Lahrne: It's... weird.
Thorn: It's just... love, it's no different from any other kind of love.
Lahrne: But mummy... and Ana's mummy...
Thorn: Lahrne, I still love your mother and Laurenza is... still friends with us.
Lahrne: But you... love him too?
Thorn: Yes...
Lahrne: *Lies down on his bed.*
Thorn: Lahrne...
Lahrne: *Cries quietly.*
Thorn: Oh Lahrne... I'm so sorry.
Lahrne: *Doesn't say anything.*
Thorn: *Leaves.*
*Kuja is still waiting outside.*
Kuja: Not so Happy Families any more?
Thorn: *Breaks out crying.*
Kuja: Oh Thorn... *Puts his arms around him.*
Thorn: She's gone... and my son thinks I'm a freak... I feel like I have nothing left... *Sobs even harder.*
Kuja: Don't I mean anything? Gee, thanks.
Thorn: I'm sorry... I'm sorry.
Kuja: He just needs time.
Thorn: *Wipes his face.* I guess you're right.
Kuja: Imagine how he must feel right now… confused, most likely.
Thorn: Yeah.
Kuja: He'll accept it sooner or later. I hope.
Thorn: I just wish I could have told him, I knew exactly what I was going to say... I never wanted it to happen like this.
Kuja: Can't you still say it to him?
Thorn: He won't listen.
Kuja: Keep poking him in the arm until he does?
Thorn: Heh... maybe not. I think I should just leave him alone for a bit.
Kuja: Yeah. *Goes to a window and looks outside.* Looks like it's going to rain. I know that's not particularly interesting, but still. It looks like it's going to rain.
Thorn: I... like rain. When I was a child, it was the only thing that made me go outside.
Kuja: *Puts his hand out the open window and feels the first drops of rain.* It's a little too... wet for my liking. But do you want to go for a walk outside?
Thorn: Sure.
Kuja: Just let me grab my umbrella.
Thorn: Hmm.
Kuja: What? You think I'm gonna get my hair wet?
Thorn: *Shrugs.*
Kuja: *Goes to fetch his umbrella and comes back a few moments later with a frog-style one.* Okay, I couldn't find mine so I borrowed Tifanel's.
Thorn: *Laughs.* Okay...
Kuja: It's not mine! Honestly!
Thorn: Right. Let's go.

*The two of them go outside, walking through the castle grounds as the rain pours down on them.*
Kuja: It's cold. It's wet. How can you like it?
Thorn: It's so refreshing, so cool.
Kuja: Fine. *Moves so that the umbrella only covers himself.*
*A distant rumble of thunder is heard.*
Kuja: Let me guess, you like storms too because they make cool crashing noises?
Thorn: Err... yes.
Kuja: And I guess you like the way lightning feels when it fries your brains out?
Thorn: It never came up.
*A flash of lightning is seen.*
Kuja: Why don't you go over there and pretend to be a lightning rod? *Grins.*
Thorn: Hmph.
Kuja: I was only kidding!
Thorn: Right.
Kuja: I thought everyone would be used to my sense of humour by now.
Thorn: Hmm. Sorry, I'm not really in a funny mood right now.
Kuja: Right. Lahrne... *He looks back at the castle and up to where Lahrne's room is.* Look, I guess he likes the rain too.
*Lahrne's window is open and Lahrne is leaning out of it.*
Thorn: *Shouts.* Lahrne, be careful!
Lahrne: *Slips himself on to the windowsill and sits there, his legs hanging over the edge.*
Kuja: He might fall!
Thorn: *Spreads his wings and flies up to the windowsill.* What are you doing?
Lahrne: *Looks up into the sky.* Mummy...
Thorn: *Picks up Lahrne and flies down to the ground.*
Lahrne: *Struggles to get out of Thorn's grasp, reaching up into the sky.* Mummy!
Thorn: Lahrne, she's gone.
*Lightning strikes only a few inches away from Kuja.*
Kuja: *Jumps out of the way.* Whoa! Maybe I should put the umbrella down.
Lahrne: *Smiles.*
Kuja: *Puts the umbrella down.* Great, now my hair will get wet...
Thorn: *Looks at Lahrne suspiciously.* Why are you smiling?
*Lightning strikes again, this time only millimetres away from Kuja.*
Kuja: *Yells and stumbles.*
Thorn: *Watches this happen and understands. He holds out his arms to the sky and the rain clouds subside.*
Kuja: This is why I don't like this weather...
Thorn: *Is looking at Lahrne.* Oh, I'm sure there were other aspects controlling it.
Lahrne: Mummy...
Thorn: It was her... 'When Spirits die, their essences return to the element from which they were born'.
Kuja: Adrienne…
Lahrne: *Glares at Kuja.* She doesn't like you.
Kuja: Okay, let me get this straight. Adrienne's essence is trying to off me?
Lahrne: She doesn't like you.
Kuja: I'm never going outside again...
Thorn: *Is looking up at the sky, tears shining in his eyes.* Adrienne, can you hear me? I'm sorry I couldn't defend you, I'm sorry I moved my relationships on too fast... and... I'm sorry I... I let you go.
Lahrne: *Cuddles up to Thorn.*
Thorn: *Is crying again, the tears rolling down his face.*
Kuja: *Walks away from them.*
Thorn: Kuja...
Kuja: *Doesn't turn around and just keeps on walking.*
Thorn: Kuja! I still need you!
Kuja: *Doesn't stop.*
Thorn: Kuja! I need you! If we have a hope in hell of being a real family then you've got to come back!
Kuja: *Turns around, tears in his eyes.*
Thorn: Come here...
Kuja: *Goes to Thorn.*
Thorn: We've got to be a family, now. We've got to stick together. Lahrne, give Kuja the respect you have for me. Kuja, give Lahrne the love and care you have for me, please...
Kuja: *Hugs the both of them.*
Thorn: Happy Families, right?
Kuja: Happy Families.
Lahrne: *Clings to Thorn still.*
Kuja: Come on Lahrne. I know I'm not your mum, but I'll be okay. I'll let you stay up late if there's something good on.
Lahrne: *Smiles.*
Kuja: *Puts his hand on Lahrne's back.* You don't have to call me 'dad,' though. That'll just make things weird.
Lahrne: *Laughs a little.*