DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FINAL FANTASY VIII, NOR ANY AFFILIATED CHARACTERS, LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, ETC. TINSÎR, AELIN, DEWN, AND OTHER ORIGINAL CHARACTERS NOT FROM FF VIII ARE MINE. ANY SONG USED IN ANY CHAPTER IS NOT OWNED BY ME UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.
Note: took the original down for some reason they did NOT explain clearly, so I finally got around to fixing every possible flaw in this and am reposting it. If there is ANYTHING wrong with anything I write (rules wise) PLEASE tell me first CLEARLY so I can fix it before you take it down. It's only common courtesy.
Chapter 1: The Beginning Of The End
Wisping clouds envelope a world of white. Towers from a gray castle penetrate it, and daunt all those that near them. Descending below the vapors, a figure walks up the stairs to the castle archway. A frail body hemmed in pearled white garments, wings the color of the whitest snow graced her back. Black hair gracing her head, she ascended, bare feet against the warm stones.
The angels, the Holy Ones, lined alongside the pathway, and bowed as she passed. She entered, as did they, rich colors dressing them. Silver gates closed behind them.
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Squall tossed, and turned in bed. He faced the inside of it, and felt the sheets where his beloved used to slumber. Cold is all he felt, and cold is all that met him. He beat the bed with a fist, and pulled the covers over his head. The darkness was giving him comfort, and he began to doze off.
A gentle rapping at the door woke him, and he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his reddened blue eyes. He hung his legs off of the side of the bed, and another knock graced his ears.
Squall: I'm coming. Dammit, be patient.
He rubbed his eyes, and opened the door. Rinoa was standing there, smiling, and somewhat shocked.
Rinoa: Um, Squall, maybe you should put a shirt on, or something. Not that I don't like to see you shirtless, but I just kinda had trouble having Dewn get dressed. So I think it would undo all I did for her to see you running around without clothes on.
Squall looked down at his torso, and realized he was wearing nothing but his pants. A small blush crept across his face, and he shut the door. He grabbed the nearest wife beater, and put it on. It didn't smell, so it was still good to wear. All of his other clothes lay strewn around the room from a fit the night before. Shattered glass lay against a wall, fallen lamps, and torn curtains marked his torment.
Walking out, gunblade, and jacket in tow, he closed the door. Rinoa sat on the couch with Dewn, and Aelin, the latter fussing. Rinoa desperately tried to hush the little one, but no bottle, pacifier, diaper change, or anything would soothe his screeching cries. Dewn laughed a little as she looked on, and shut up when her father walked into the room.
Rinoa: He woke up, and I have tried everything to get him happy. I even changed his diaper.
Squall picked up his son, and held him in the crook of his arm. The boy smiled, and cooed, falling asleep.
Squall: He just wanted someone to hold him. He's like... never mind.
Rinoa: Um, I figured I would take Dewn shopping with me, Sephy, and Quisty. Is that okay?
Squall: Dewn?
Dewn: Uh, ...sure.
Squall: It's fine with me. No sugar, soda, or anything that will give her a sugar rush, okay? Be back before dusk.
Rinoa: Great! We'll have a girl's day out. Sorry, Aelin!
Aelin gave a small relieved smile, and turned over in his father's arm. Rinoa, and Dewn left, and left Squall, and Aelin alone.
Squall: Hey, little guy... I guess it's just you, and me today... I think there'll be more days like this. Dewn will be there too. Just the three of us... Do you ever see her sometimes still?... I guess not. I wonder if you can really even understand me sometimes... then you give me that look. She used to give me that look all the time. . . You take after her you know... I miss her, Aelin... What do you think of Rinoa?... Too much perkiness? I think Dewn doesn't like her at all. Maybe today they'll get along... Or hate each other even more....
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Tinsîr, in her final, and true form, walked up the halls to a throne room. There she'd meet the One Being. There she'd be face to face with God. Ceremonial robes were placed on her, white dress, white cloak, white sashed, white, and silver everything. Purity means a lot in their culture, and before the One Being she would need every ounce of purity she could get. Here, she would petition for her people, and her life. Here she would plead her case.
Odin hugged her as she neared the door, and placed the silver crown of her father on her brow. He whispered something in her pointed ear, and she smiled as she knocked upon the door.
Guardian (whispers to Odin): Aye, do ye think she is ready?
Odin: We had better pray she is, or we are all in peril.
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Selphie walked into the living room joining everyone bedrooms together. Tiptoeing past the couch, she went to her room to get a camera. She tiptoed back in, and took several shots of the sleeping males, Aelin on Squall's chest. She could barely keep from laughing, and quietly walked outside.
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Squall woke up hours later, and found Aelin crying. His shirt slightly wet from the child's tears, he hurried to pick him up, and find out what was wrong. He tried giving him a bottle, but that did not stop the wails. He changed the babe's diaper, but all that stopped was his sense of smell. Trying the bottle once again, Aelin hushed, and cooed, his tiny fingers grasping the bottle nipple, and then Squall's finger.
Squall sighed, and leaned back in the couch. He then rose, realizing the room was stuffy, and somewhat rank. He used his left arm to hold Aelin, his chin to hold the bottle, and his hand to open the window. He then repeated this for his bedroom door, and the french doors to his balcony.
The breeze cooled their skin, and Squall wrapped Aelin's blanket tighter around the newborn. They sat on a chair by the small table, and looked out at the city. There they sat, two men alone in the world, finding comfort in each other.