Life has been good since the SeeD's killed sorceress Ultimecia. Rinoa moved in with Squall at Balam garden. She learned how to be a sorceress from Edea and would help Squall with his SeeD missions, (when he actually needed help). Squall was moving up on the ladder getting promotions and recognitions every step of the way. So life was pretty good. Until one night; Squall and Rinoa were at a dinner party when Rinoa got a phonecall.
Her father was ill, and it was serious. Rinoa didn't know what to say. She hadn't seen her father in over a year and she didn't speak to him when she was there. But now he was sick and he wanted to see her. "Hun, what's wrong?" Squall asked Rinoa. "My… father is sick." She replied. She studied his face closely. He was searing an expression of concern and confusion. "What do you want to do?" he asked. Rinoa thought for a moment. "I have to see him." Squall understood.
The next day Squall and Rinoa borrowed a car from Cid and went on their way to Deling City, Squall behind the wheel. Rinoa was silent for most of the drive until-
"He's dying isn't he." Rinoa said, barely louder than a whisper. Squall looked worried. He didn't know how to handle this sort of thing. "You don't know that-" "Yes I do" she interrupted. "We haven't spoken in years, he is so stubborn, he…" her eyes began to fill with tears. "He wouldn't ask to see me unless he thought it would be the last time he ever did." Squall put his hand on her leg. He told her everything would be okay. Somehow, this made Rinoa feel better.
They soon arrived in Deling. The butler lead them to the General's room. Rinoa was shaking but Squall held her hand tight. And there he was. "Is he…" Rinoa was afraid to ask. "No." the butler said. "He's only sleeping. But he's been asking for you. Go to him." He left leaving Rinoa and Squall to the sleeping General. Rinoa put her hand on his. The General's eyes slowly opened. "Rinoa" he whispered. "My child, you're here." Rinoa smiled. "You asked to see me right?" The General nodded. He put his hand on her cheek and slowly stroked her hair. Squall stood awkwardly in the corner, shuffling his feet wondering if the General even knew he was here. He did.
Rinoa's father looked at Squall and beckoned him toward him. Squall slowly walked to the General's bedside. "Young man" he said. "You take care of my daughter, you hear?" The General's voice was quiet but still had the same power used to command a hundred soldiers. "You look after my girl when I'm gone." Squall nodded but Rinoa shook her head. "No daddy, you're not going anywhere" But the General shook his head. "I'm dying Rinoa, and you can't stop it. You have to accept that. My only comfort is that you will have someone to take of you like I should have done all these years." Rinoa burst into tears. "I'm so sorry daddy." The General put his hand up to silent her. He looked at her closely. "You look so much like your mother." Rinoa smiled a tearful smile and curled up on the bed, just like when she was a little girl, her fathers arm around her singing his child to sleep. Squall got comfortable in the armchair on the other side of the room and slowly he too drifted off to sleep.
He was in a small village. There were screams and cries of terror. The village was on fire! Squall turned around and saw a young woman holding a baby crying over an injured man's body. Squall heard the man whisper, "Take him…Mel…Take Squall…somewhere…safe." Suddenly Squall heard a scream. "Papa!"
Squall awoke. Rinoa was kneeling on the General's bedside sobbing. Squall didn't know what to do, but to hold her close and tell her "Everything's going to be okay."
