**It's 2 years since the end of FF8. **
How Life Changes - **Chapter 1**
The world outside his window was warm and inviting. Beckoning him to bask in the vivid surroundings of light, sounds and people. He felt a small hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his most precious treasure, his love, his life. A warm feeling swept over him as he thought about what that future held. He was finally together with Rinoa. The only reason for his existence. No one was as beautiful as her. The sun was envious of her radiance. Her presence could light up any room.
"Squall, Hon" she said lovingly. "We've got a call"
Rising from his chair, Squall took Rinoa's hand and walked into their family room. It was full of photos of Rinoa and Squall taken all around the world. There was a photo of them at Balamb Garden, then in Trabia and even on board the Ragnarok
There were expensive portraits and even paintings of them together. There was no doubt that they were in love.
Squall looked towards the wall sized screen. With the press of a button, their dear friend Selfie appeared on the screen. He leaned over to the microphone that was upon the table.
"Hey Selfie!" He exclaimed with a sincere smile.
"Hey Squall. Hi Rinoa! How've ya's both 'bin goin' ?" Asked Selfie, returning the smile.
"We're both fine thanks" Rinoa replied. "How has your life been going?"
As the girls chatted for a while, Squall watched Rinoa's every move. He was contented just being in near her. A smile crept over his face as he remembered the moment he proposed to his beautiful wife, wishing he could do it over and over again. The excitement in her voice gave him such joy. He couldn't stand not to hear it. He overheard little snippets of the girls' conversation.
".....Not too much longer, hey?"
".....Your so lucky...."
"......I've never been happier....."
Squall tuned in and started listening.
"So, I'll expect the both of you in two months time for my Christmas party, OK?" Selfie asked.
"Yep. That sounds great! I'll see you then!" Rinoa beamed.
"Alrighty-o then! Cat ya's all lata!" Slanged Selfie in her usual tone.
Squall was happy to have seen his dear friend, but he was glad that the two of them were alone once more.
"Sweetie? I'm just going up to my studio ok. I'll be back down at 6pm to help you with dinner?" Squall called out as he started to walk up the stairs.
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Squall was usually alone when he came to his studio. Rinoa knew it was his ALONE time. She was allowed to go in the studio, he just preferred to work alone. Some people just never change. Once a lone fighter, still a lone fighter. It was in this room that Squall gathered all of his thoughts. He thought back to Rinoa and Selfie's conversation earlier. Rinoa said she had never been happier. But to Squall, it seemed like she was lying. Come to think of it, for the last 3 weeks, she had been unhappy for no reason. He pondered for a while longer, then decided he needed to get to work on his painting. That's right, PAINTING. Squall retired from SeeD 2 years ago so he could spend his life with Rinoa without having to worry about getting hurt or killed in a war. Since then he has found a passion for painting. [Yes, PAINTING!!] And he was good at it too. On the wall directly in front of his easel was a huge portrait of Rinoa that he had painted. Rinoa loves that painting, but Squall doesn't want it to be moved. She is his motivation and the painting helps that bit more. The wall behind where he sat was covered with books. A huge book shelf covered the wall. It was full of books about junctioning, magic, limits and some ancient type of magic called materia. The other two walls were covered in a mural that he painted. It showed Rinoa kneeling at the edge of their lake at sunset, showing Balamb and Balamb Garden in the distance. It had taken him nearly 2 years to finish it, but it gave him great satisfaction.
Looking at his watch, Squall realized he had just spent an hour doing nothing but thinking. It was nearly six, so returned down stairs to help his beautiful wife. As he silently appeared at the bottom of the stairs, he saw Rinoa. She was talking to someone on the vidi-fone, but it wasn't Selfie. Squall couldn't quite see who, but he could see Rinoa's face. She had a been crying for a while because her voice was quavering and her eyes were really red. Not wanting to be rude, he went the long way to the kitchen, so Rinoa's call wouldn't be interrupted. He was opening the capsule holder as she appeared in the kitchen. She had been to their room and put make-up on, because her eyes weren't as red.
"What are you so upset about?" He asked as he got glasses of ice-cold water out of the tap.
"Nothing. Well, something, but I'll tell you after we eat" she replied, trying hard not to cry.
Squall handed Rinoa a roast dinner capsule and a glass of water. They both swallowed their tablets. [new food technology!! Traditional food is still made, but the pills are for convinience] Rinoa burst out into a smile as a stream of water came out of the side of Squall's glass, leaving a trail of water down his chin and clothes.
{She never could resist my charm and perfection} Squall thought to himself.
"Let's go to the park" Rinoa laughed.
Squall obediently followed Rinoa into the entertainment room. They sat in the periwinkle blue love seat and put on their seat belts. All of a sudden, the room started to change. It looked exactly like the park in Balamb. It WAS the park in Balamb.
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"Rock On Final Fantasy" - Zidane's NEW Princess
