Disclaimer: I do not own FFVIII.
This is a romantic Seifer/Squall fic. You have been warned!
Storm Arrives
Squall sank into one of the chairs in Caraway's study, wondering why the man had summoned him. It had been six years since his divorce from Rinoa had become final, and in the eight years since Ultimecia's defeat no wars had broken out, so there was no reason for this to be business.
He studied Caraway carefully for a few moments. The past few years had whitened his hair, and he looked pale and drained.
"I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to come." Caraway moved from his seat opposite Squall to stare out of the window. "Rinoa died two days ago. She was involved in a traffic accident last week." He bowed his head. "Just like her mother."
He turned back to Squall. "When Rinoa's mother died I was forced to bring Rinoa up by myself. I didn't do a very good job of it. I made many mistakes. Now it's your turn."
Squall blinked confused. "I don't understand."
Caraway sighed. "Much as I would like to correct the mistakes I made with my daughter, it's too late. If I were to bring up my granddaughter that is what would happen and that would be doing her an injustice. It's up to both of you to make your own mistakes. Squall, you have a daughter. Rinoa was pregnant when she left you though she claimed she did not know. I want my granddaughter to be brought up in Garden and to receive SeeD training. Maybe if Rinoa had. You're her father, take care of her. I think its time to introduce you"
He walked to the door and opened it. "STORM!"
Squall was sitting there trying to absorb the double blow of Rinoa's death and a daughter when the child in question walked in. She looked about seven years old. She had a white bandana covering her hair causing it to trail down her back in a thick column. She had two long bangs at the front like Squall's own, but they framed her face instead of curving back to cover her ears. Her hair was the same colour as Squall's but she had her mother's brown eyes. Squall couldn't decide whether she had Rinoa's nose, mouth etc, or his, but the overall effect was .cuteness. She wore a blue tie-dyed tank top and khaki cargo pants. She also had a scowl on her face as she flung herself into the nearest chair.
"Storm was with her mother when she died and inherited both her sorceress powers and her GF's. She'll have to learn to control her powers, but for now it might be safer to remove her GF."
Squall looked at the sulking child in front of him and nodded. Letting her use GF in this frame of mind was not a clever idea. Closing his eyes, he reached out mentally towards his daughter and drew Carbuncle, Cerberus and Cactuar into his own mind. The last two sunk in with no problems but Carbuncle was not cooperating. Squall heard a voice in his head.
"Don't hurt her. She's been hurt enough. She's using anger as a shield against her grief, but you can help her."
Carbuncle then sank into the recesses of Squall's mind. He opened his eyes and looked at Caraway. "Can I use your phone? I need to make arrangements for our arrival."
Caraway nodded. "It's in the hall."
Squall dialled first the number for Balamb garden's switchboard then the extension for Seifer. He didn't feel comfortable with the idea of talking to Quistis about this, so he was going to get someone to do it for him.
Seifer picked up the phone at the other end. "Koi, what's the matter? You look a little shell-shocked."
Squall saw the genuine concern on Seifer's face and smiled inwardly. He was so lucky to have someone like Seifer love him so much. "I am, rather. Listen, I need you to move us somewhere with two bedrooms. I also need you to make arrangements for a new junior classman."
Seifer's eyes widened. "Squall, what is going on?"
Squall smiled faintly but there was no happiness in the smile. "Rinoa died two days ago. I have a daughter I never knew existed. She's coming back to Garden with me. Her name's Storm."
Seifer sighed. "Poor kid. Still at least here she'll meet a lot of people with the same experience. Lots of the SeeDs have only one parent, or none at all, like us."
"They might not be as understanding as you think. She was with Rinoa when she died, and she inherited her mother's power. The most powerful sorceress in our time handed her powers to a child too young to have much control. Issue orders to keep reflect cast on anyone who enters Garden. When Rinoa 'Angel Wing'ed she had no control over her power. I can only hope we can teach Storm better control. Could you contact Matron? I have a feeling we're going to need her help."
Seifer nodded and then sighed gustily. "I'll get right on it. Hurry back. I miss you."
Squall smiled and broke the connection. He walked back to the study where neither Storm nor Caraway had moved. He looked at Caraway and said "Could you have her things packed up? We'll be leaving today. We should reach Balamb by nightfall." Caraway left to make the arrangements and Squall studied his daughter who was pretending to ignore him, while trying to study him as thoroughly as she could.
"You know, I understand how you're feeling right now. It's a shock meeting a father you've never seen before for the first time," Squall tried to think of something else to say. :She must think I'm an idiot: He looked everywhere but at his daughter. "I felt uncomfortable the first few times I met your other grandfather, Laguna. I didn't know he was my father at first but I'd been having these weird dreams about him. When you meet Ellone, you'll probably understand. Matron will becoming to see you at Garden, she's the closest think my friends and me had to a mother. I'm sure she'll love you just like she'd us." :Now what do I say? I was never any good with words. Why did she have to take after me - I can't read her at all. I wonder what she's thinking: He glanced at Storm to find her removing all traces of interest from her face. :That's a good sign, I hope:
He smiled and said, "I think you might enjoy Garden once you get used to it."
Seifer's P.O.V.
Squall.has.a.daughter. I couldn't believe it. That Rinoa was dead was a shock, after all, she and I had dated for a while and she was my boyfriend's ex-wife. But that she'd had Squall's child.my mind was still spinning as I turned to pick up the phone and dialled Quistis Trepe's office. Kinneas answered the phone. I had never really gotten on with Kinneas, even though he liked to wind up Chicken-wuss as much as I did. Maybe I felt that I was allowed to take the piss out of the wuss but nobody else was. He and Squall had been my exclusive targets for years. Oh, well. "Could I speak to Quistis please? It's important." Kinneas disappeared and I sneered at him silently. Quisty suddenly popped into view.
"What's wrong, Seifer? Does the Disciplinary Committee have a problem it needs me to handle?"
I sighed. Why did she assume something was wrong just because I'd called her? "No, this isn't about the Committee. Before I start, where's that damned cowboy?"
Kinneas popped into view. "Call me that to my face, I'm right here."
"That's the problem. This is, at the moment, confidential information. You'll only find out when Squall and Quistis decide. For now, scram!"
Kinneas disappeared like one of his own gunshots. "Is he gone?"
Quistis nodded, her lips drawn into a tight line. "He's gone. What's this about Seifer?"
"I need you to move Squall and me somewhere with two bedrooms, and register a new junior classman. A girl named Storm." I hesitated not sure what surname to give her. Might as well get it out in the open. "Storm Leonhart."
Quisty gasped loudly. The woman looked like a goldfish.
"Hello. Airstation to Quistis.Respond, Quistis." Quisty shook herself and tried to regain her composure. She tapped on the computer panel in front of her.
"Cid arranged for an apartment for you two to be built three years ago when these offices were put in. According to these specs, there's a room that was supposed to be his office but if we leave him where he is we can convert it in to a bedroom for Storm." Now I was the one who looked like a goldfish. Why had Cid ordered an apartment built into the basement level for us? Sometimes that man's foresight creeped me out. The last time I had met someone with that degree of insight into the future it had been someone to whom the future was ancient history - Ultimecia.
I smiled. "Thanks Quisty. I'll let Squall know everything's arranged. Could you send someone over to help me move all this junk of ours?"
Now she looked like a goldfish again. What had I said this time? Oh, I had called her Quisty. I hadn't done that since we were kids, except in my thoughts. No wonder she looked shocked. She smiled at me and spoke softly. "Anything to help my two best students. I'll send some of the Trepies down. If I ask them to get it done as quickly as possible the room'll be empty before you can blink." She was trying to joke but I saw a shimmer in her eyes. Had me calling her Quisty affected her this much? Great. If Kinneas saw her like this, he'd be round to shoot me for making her cry before she had a chance to explain.
She put the phone down and the screen in front of me went blank. Feeling very awkward about the next call, I dialled the number of the newly built orphanage, where Headmaster Cid had retired. This one was slightly more accessible, having been built about five miles from Winhill.
I felt even more awkward when Matron answered the phone. She looked the same as she had when I was a five-year-old boy. What's more, she made me feel I was still the same boy.
"Seifer. To what do we owe the pleasure of this call? I don't think I've seen or heard from you since the twentieth anniversary celebrations last year." She smiled at me sweetly and to my horror, I could feel myself blushing.
"I .Sorry. Matron, Squall and I need your help and we hoped you could visit us in Garden to do so."
"It would have to be a very big problem for me to leave the children here. What is it?"
I took a deep breath. This was going to be .difficult. "Squall has a six year old daughter named Storm, whom he only just found out about. Rinoa is dead, and she passed her powers onto Storm before she died."
Matron wasn't doing the goldfish impression that Quisty had but she looked stunned.
"I see. You do need my help. Once Squall arrives back at Balamb, try and talk him into bring the Garden to Winhill. It would be easier if I can keep an eye on the orphanage as well. I love Cid, but I don't think he'd be able to cope." Her serene face gazed back at him. "Good luck, my child. Until I am able to help you, you will need it." Matron broke the connection and I sat there, staring at the empty screen, trying to come to terms with the fact that now, I would have to share Squall with someone else.
Squall's P.O.V.
I stepped of the train, cradling the child in my arms gently. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all. Then I remembered her face as she entered Caraway's study, and sighed.
One of the porters was standing not too far from me. "Could you send our luggage on to Garden, please?"
"Yes sir. We'll do it right away."
"Thank you." I watched him walk away then I glanced down at Storm. She'd fallen asleep half way between Timber and Balamb.
I walked down the steps outside the station. Seeing a shadow move, I cursed the fact that with Storm in my arms I couldn't use my gunblade, and then I relaxed as I recognized the handsome face. Seifer.
"It's too late for us to head for Garden now so I booked us a room at the Hotel."
I smiled gratefully at him and spoke softly. "Thanks love. She's too tired to move any further." Seifer strolled by my side as we headed for the hotel, his arm around my waist.
He held open the door for me and I walked in, glad to be out of the cool night air.
The hotel owner smiled at me. "Hello, Commander. New student?"
I smiled as I shook my head. "My daughter." The man looked gobsmacked.
"I never knew you had a daughter." He then looked horrified. "I mean, it's none of my business, why should I know whether you have a daughter or not." The man gabbled.
"Relax. I didn't know until this morning, so I'd have been surprised if you said you had known." the man look relieved.
"I'll show you to your room. The poor mite looks exhausted."
"Her mother died two days ago. That's why she's here." The man looked even more sympathetic.
"Here's your room, sirs. I hope you have a good night's sleep." He glanced down at Storm. "Poor lassie." He turned and headed back down the stairs.
Seifer held open the door for me and then turned back the covers on one of the beds so I could put Storm on it. We removed her trainers and bandana, and covered her up. Seifer looked down at her.
"Without out that bandana, she looks like you used to."
"Used to?"
"Before the scar. Whose eyes has she got?"
"Rinoa's." Seifer gazed down at her then he seemed to think of something.
"Squall, you never said what her surname was and it made it easier to tell Quisty so. I registered her as Storm Leonhart."
I smiled. "That's fine." I looped my arm around his waist and placed my hand flat against his cheek.
He gazed down at me, running a hand through my hair, and in a husky voice said "I missed you."
"I was only gone two days." I said, trying to hide the fact that what he had said pleased me, and that I had missed him too.
"And a night." He reminded me before he captured my mouth with his own. I moaned softly as his tongue explored the contours of my mouth. Suddenly he drew back, brushing his lips over mine in apology before saying, "We can't do this now. We might wake her up." He moved away, and took off his trench coat before sitting on the bed to remove his boots. Leaning back against the pillows he patted the space beside him. A wry smile wrung my lips as I removed jacket boots and the belts wrapped round my trousers. I laid Lionheart on the table next to Hyperion, and lay down beside him. A feather light kiss brushed my temples as I let him draw me into his embrace. I closed my eyes, and fell into a deep slumber.
A/N: This idea came to me while reading other Squall/Seifer fics. Thank you to anyone whose work I read, as it was obviously inspirational! More of this will come, but it might take me a while.
This is a romantic Seifer/Squall fic. You have been warned!
Storm Arrives
Squall sank into one of the chairs in Caraway's study, wondering why the man had summoned him. It had been six years since his divorce from Rinoa had become final, and in the eight years since Ultimecia's defeat no wars had broken out, so there was no reason for this to be business.
He studied Caraway carefully for a few moments. The past few years had whitened his hair, and he looked pale and drained.
"I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to come." Caraway moved from his seat opposite Squall to stare out of the window. "Rinoa died two days ago. She was involved in a traffic accident last week." He bowed his head. "Just like her mother."
He turned back to Squall. "When Rinoa's mother died I was forced to bring Rinoa up by myself. I didn't do a very good job of it. I made many mistakes. Now it's your turn."
Squall blinked confused. "I don't understand."
Caraway sighed. "Much as I would like to correct the mistakes I made with my daughter, it's too late. If I were to bring up my granddaughter that is what would happen and that would be doing her an injustice. It's up to both of you to make your own mistakes. Squall, you have a daughter. Rinoa was pregnant when she left you though she claimed she did not know. I want my granddaughter to be brought up in Garden and to receive SeeD training. Maybe if Rinoa had. You're her father, take care of her. I think its time to introduce you"
He walked to the door and opened it. "STORM!"
Squall was sitting there trying to absorb the double blow of Rinoa's death and a daughter when the child in question walked in. She looked about seven years old. She had a white bandana covering her hair causing it to trail down her back in a thick column. She had two long bangs at the front like Squall's own, but they framed her face instead of curving back to cover her ears. Her hair was the same colour as Squall's but she had her mother's brown eyes. Squall couldn't decide whether she had Rinoa's nose, mouth etc, or his, but the overall effect was .cuteness. She wore a blue tie-dyed tank top and khaki cargo pants. She also had a scowl on her face as she flung herself into the nearest chair.
"Storm was with her mother when she died and inherited both her sorceress powers and her GF's. She'll have to learn to control her powers, but for now it might be safer to remove her GF."
Squall looked at the sulking child in front of him and nodded. Letting her use GF in this frame of mind was not a clever idea. Closing his eyes, he reached out mentally towards his daughter and drew Carbuncle, Cerberus and Cactuar into his own mind. The last two sunk in with no problems but Carbuncle was not cooperating. Squall heard a voice in his head.
"Don't hurt her. She's been hurt enough. She's using anger as a shield against her grief, but you can help her."
Carbuncle then sank into the recesses of Squall's mind. He opened his eyes and looked at Caraway. "Can I use your phone? I need to make arrangements for our arrival."
Caraway nodded. "It's in the hall."
Squall dialled first the number for Balamb garden's switchboard then the extension for Seifer. He didn't feel comfortable with the idea of talking to Quistis about this, so he was going to get someone to do it for him.
Seifer picked up the phone at the other end. "Koi, what's the matter? You look a little shell-shocked."
Squall saw the genuine concern on Seifer's face and smiled inwardly. He was so lucky to have someone like Seifer love him so much. "I am, rather. Listen, I need you to move us somewhere with two bedrooms. I also need you to make arrangements for a new junior classman."
Seifer's eyes widened. "Squall, what is going on?"
Squall smiled faintly but there was no happiness in the smile. "Rinoa died two days ago. I have a daughter I never knew existed. She's coming back to Garden with me. Her name's Storm."
Seifer sighed. "Poor kid. Still at least here she'll meet a lot of people with the same experience. Lots of the SeeDs have only one parent, or none at all, like us."
"They might not be as understanding as you think. She was with Rinoa when she died, and she inherited her mother's power. The most powerful sorceress in our time handed her powers to a child too young to have much control. Issue orders to keep reflect cast on anyone who enters Garden. When Rinoa 'Angel Wing'ed she had no control over her power. I can only hope we can teach Storm better control. Could you contact Matron? I have a feeling we're going to need her help."
Seifer nodded and then sighed gustily. "I'll get right on it. Hurry back. I miss you."
Squall smiled and broke the connection. He walked back to the study where neither Storm nor Caraway had moved. He looked at Caraway and said "Could you have her things packed up? We'll be leaving today. We should reach Balamb by nightfall." Caraway left to make the arrangements and Squall studied his daughter who was pretending to ignore him, while trying to study him as thoroughly as she could.
"You know, I understand how you're feeling right now. It's a shock meeting a father you've never seen before for the first time," Squall tried to think of something else to say. :She must think I'm an idiot: He looked everywhere but at his daughter. "I felt uncomfortable the first few times I met your other grandfather, Laguna. I didn't know he was my father at first but I'd been having these weird dreams about him. When you meet Ellone, you'll probably understand. Matron will becoming to see you at Garden, she's the closest think my friends and me had to a mother. I'm sure she'll love you just like she'd us." :Now what do I say? I was never any good with words. Why did she have to take after me - I can't read her at all. I wonder what she's thinking: He glanced at Storm to find her removing all traces of interest from her face. :That's a good sign, I hope:
He smiled and said, "I think you might enjoy Garden once you get used to it."
Seifer's P.O.V.
Squall.has.a.daughter. I couldn't believe it. That Rinoa was dead was a shock, after all, she and I had dated for a while and she was my boyfriend's ex-wife. But that she'd had Squall's child.my mind was still spinning as I turned to pick up the phone and dialled Quistis Trepe's office. Kinneas answered the phone. I had never really gotten on with Kinneas, even though he liked to wind up Chicken-wuss as much as I did. Maybe I felt that I was allowed to take the piss out of the wuss but nobody else was. He and Squall had been my exclusive targets for years. Oh, well. "Could I speak to Quistis please? It's important." Kinneas disappeared and I sneered at him silently. Quisty suddenly popped into view.
"What's wrong, Seifer? Does the Disciplinary Committee have a problem it needs me to handle?"
I sighed. Why did she assume something was wrong just because I'd called her? "No, this isn't about the Committee. Before I start, where's that damned cowboy?"
Kinneas popped into view. "Call me that to my face, I'm right here."
"That's the problem. This is, at the moment, confidential information. You'll only find out when Squall and Quistis decide. For now, scram!"
Kinneas disappeared like one of his own gunshots. "Is he gone?"
Quistis nodded, her lips drawn into a tight line. "He's gone. What's this about Seifer?"
"I need you to move Squall and me somewhere with two bedrooms, and register a new junior classman. A girl named Storm." I hesitated not sure what surname to give her. Might as well get it out in the open. "Storm Leonhart."
Quisty gasped loudly. The woman looked like a goldfish.
"Hello. Airstation to Quistis.Respond, Quistis." Quisty shook herself and tried to regain her composure. She tapped on the computer panel in front of her.
"Cid arranged for an apartment for you two to be built three years ago when these offices were put in. According to these specs, there's a room that was supposed to be his office but if we leave him where he is we can convert it in to a bedroom for Storm." Now I was the one who looked like a goldfish. Why had Cid ordered an apartment built into the basement level for us? Sometimes that man's foresight creeped me out. The last time I had met someone with that degree of insight into the future it had been someone to whom the future was ancient history - Ultimecia.
I smiled. "Thanks Quisty. I'll let Squall know everything's arranged. Could you send someone over to help me move all this junk of ours?"
Now she looked like a goldfish again. What had I said this time? Oh, I had called her Quisty. I hadn't done that since we were kids, except in my thoughts. No wonder she looked shocked. She smiled at me and spoke softly. "Anything to help my two best students. I'll send some of the Trepies down. If I ask them to get it done as quickly as possible the room'll be empty before you can blink." She was trying to joke but I saw a shimmer in her eyes. Had me calling her Quisty affected her this much? Great. If Kinneas saw her like this, he'd be round to shoot me for making her cry before she had a chance to explain.
She put the phone down and the screen in front of me went blank. Feeling very awkward about the next call, I dialled the number of the newly built orphanage, where Headmaster Cid had retired. This one was slightly more accessible, having been built about five miles from Winhill.
I felt even more awkward when Matron answered the phone. She looked the same as she had when I was a five-year-old boy. What's more, she made me feel I was still the same boy.
"Seifer. To what do we owe the pleasure of this call? I don't think I've seen or heard from you since the twentieth anniversary celebrations last year." She smiled at me sweetly and to my horror, I could feel myself blushing.
"I .Sorry. Matron, Squall and I need your help and we hoped you could visit us in Garden to do so."
"It would have to be a very big problem for me to leave the children here. What is it?"
I took a deep breath. This was going to be .difficult. "Squall has a six year old daughter named Storm, whom he only just found out about. Rinoa is dead, and she passed her powers onto Storm before she died."
Matron wasn't doing the goldfish impression that Quisty had but she looked stunned.
"I see. You do need my help. Once Squall arrives back at Balamb, try and talk him into bring the Garden to Winhill. It would be easier if I can keep an eye on the orphanage as well. I love Cid, but I don't think he'd be able to cope." Her serene face gazed back at him. "Good luck, my child. Until I am able to help you, you will need it." Matron broke the connection and I sat there, staring at the empty screen, trying to come to terms with the fact that now, I would have to share Squall with someone else.
Squall's P.O.V.
I stepped of the train, cradling the child in my arms gently. Maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all. Then I remembered her face as she entered Caraway's study, and sighed.
One of the porters was standing not too far from me. "Could you send our luggage on to Garden, please?"
"Yes sir. We'll do it right away."
"Thank you." I watched him walk away then I glanced down at Storm. She'd fallen asleep half way between Timber and Balamb.
I walked down the steps outside the station. Seeing a shadow move, I cursed the fact that with Storm in my arms I couldn't use my gunblade, and then I relaxed as I recognized the handsome face. Seifer.
"It's too late for us to head for Garden now so I booked us a room at the Hotel."
I smiled gratefully at him and spoke softly. "Thanks love. She's too tired to move any further." Seifer strolled by my side as we headed for the hotel, his arm around my waist.
He held open the door for me and I walked in, glad to be out of the cool night air.
The hotel owner smiled at me. "Hello, Commander. New student?"
I smiled as I shook my head. "My daughter." The man looked gobsmacked.
"I never knew you had a daughter." He then looked horrified. "I mean, it's none of my business, why should I know whether you have a daughter or not." The man gabbled.
"Relax. I didn't know until this morning, so I'd have been surprised if you said you had known." the man look relieved.
"I'll show you to your room. The poor mite looks exhausted."
"Her mother died two days ago. That's why she's here." The man looked even more sympathetic.
"Here's your room, sirs. I hope you have a good night's sleep." He glanced down at Storm. "Poor lassie." He turned and headed back down the stairs.
Seifer held open the door for me and then turned back the covers on one of the beds so I could put Storm on it. We removed her trainers and bandana, and covered her up. Seifer looked down at her.
"Without out that bandana, she looks like you used to."
"Used to?"
"Before the scar. Whose eyes has she got?"
"Rinoa's." Seifer gazed down at her then he seemed to think of something.
"Squall, you never said what her surname was and it made it easier to tell Quisty so. I registered her as Storm Leonhart."
I smiled. "That's fine." I looped my arm around his waist and placed my hand flat against his cheek.
He gazed down at me, running a hand through my hair, and in a husky voice said "I missed you."
"I was only gone two days." I said, trying to hide the fact that what he had said pleased me, and that I had missed him too.
"And a night." He reminded me before he captured my mouth with his own. I moaned softly as his tongue explored the contours of my mouth. Suddenly he drew back, brushing his lips over mine in apology before saying, "We can't do this now. We might wake her up." He moved away, and took off his trench coat before sitting on the bed to remove his boots. Leaning back against the pillows he patted the space beside him. A wry smile wrung my lips as I removed jacket boots and the belts wrapped round my trousers. I laid Lionheart on the table next to Hyperion, and lay down beside him. A feather light kiss brushed my temples as I let him draw me into his embrace. I closed my eyes, and fell into a deep slumber.
A/N: This idea came to me while reading other Squall/Seifer fics. Thank you to anyone whose work I read, as it was obviously inspirational! More of this will come, but it might take me a while.