Disclaimer: SquareSoft owns Final Fantasy and all related stuff. I wrote this because I'm a fan. I'm making no money off of it, and the only things that belong to me are the plot and the characters.
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CHAPTER 1: HONEYMOON
"Squall, are you listening to me?"
Squall sighed. He was dreading this, even more than facing a whole herd of Omega Weapons. They'd just gotten back from their emergency mission, and she was already on his case. "Yes, Rin, I hear you."
"I didn't ask that, Squall," said Rinoa, getting even more annoyed. "I said are you listening?"
Didn't I just answer that? "Yes, Rin, I'm listening. And I'm sorry, I really am. But I didn't ask that Omega Weapon to show up and start tearing up Winhill so our honeymoon could be ruined. And since we were the only ones that had ever fought one and lived to tell about it, I guess they mistakenly figured that we should be the ones to help." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Rinoa's cheeks turned red "Oh, fine, sorry, Mister Commander. Jeez, we've only been married a week and we're already fighting about something." She stood up from her chair and got in Squall's face. "Why, Squall? We haven't even consummated our marriage! What do you think that says to me? You wouldn't even go with me to one of the Ragnarok's cargo holds for ten minutes! I know you're a prude sometimes, but we owe each other at least ten minutes of pleasure! For all the times we've saved the world, I think we've earned it!"
Squall looked into her eyes for a second, witnessing the utter fury behind them. He was sympathetic, but the lot in life for a SeeD was to put personal pleasure secondary to getting the job done. It was inconvenient, and downright unbearable at times, but it was the life he chose. And the life she chose, both when she became a SeeD herself, and then when she married him.
Squall looked away, somewhat upset with his wife for her outburst, but mostly upset with himself for hurting her. Rinoa turned on her heel and sat back down in her chair, turned away from him.
"Rin, look, I'm sorry about that. It's not that I didn't want to. Hyne, I wanted nothing more. But I wanted our first time to be special, in a place that meant something to us, a place where we could enjoy it and have time afterwards to do it again. And again. And then maybe go for a walk on a beach. And do it again."
Rinoa's frown turned into a reluctant smile, and she chuckled, despite her anger. She couldn't even tell if he was serious, bragging, or trying to make her laugh. How does he do that? I can't stay mad at him for more than a few minutes.
"That's a giggle I hear," said Squall, walking up to her. He kneeled in front of her, although she turned her head to the right to avoid looking at him.
"Rin, look at me," said Squall, placing a hand on her right cheek, lightly turning her head to face him. She looked into his eyes, and saw a sincere, loving heart behind them.
"I'm going up to talk to Headmaster Cid right now. I'm going to tell him that you and I are going to be gone for two weeks, starting tomorrow."
"No," said Rinoa.
"What? Why…"
"Today, Squall. I want to leave today." Rinoa placed her hand on his cheek.
"Okay, today. We'll be gone for two weeks and a day." He smiled, and Rinoa couldn't help but return the smile.
"What about our plans, our reservations? We lost them all when we didn't go last week."
"Don't worry about it," said Squall. "We have more than enough Gil saved up to just go somewhere. Maybe Lag…maybe my…father…can get us set up with a nice honeymoon suite in Esthar. After that, we could tour the world by train, and make Selphie jealous."
Rinoa laughed. She never knew her lover to be so spontaneous. Around the world, wherever the trains take us?
"I can't think of a better way to start our marriage," said Rinoa, as she drew Squall into the most passionate kiss they'd shared in a long time.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Squall and Rinoa separated, and Squall muttered an un-gentlemanlike curse under his breath.
"There had better be a dozen nuclear missiles headed our way," he muttered to Rinoa.
She sighed, leaned back in her chair, and said, "Come in."
The new wing of Garden that contained the couple's apartment was equipped with voice-activated doors. The lock registered Rinoa's voice, and automatically unlatched the door. Both Leonharts were surprised by the identity of their visitor. Headmaster Cid stuck his head in the room and asked, "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Actually, sir," said Squall, standing from his kneeling position, "yes."
"Sorry, I remember what it's like to be newlyweds," said Cid. "But I have to inform you of a highly important mission, for which you must leave today."
Rinoa closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She knew it. Can't my husband and I have one fucking minute alone together?
Squall placed his forehead in his hand and said, "Sir, with all due respect, Rinoa and I…"
"I know, son, I know," said Cid. "This mission is for the two of you. Just the two of you."
Rinoa opened her eyes and looked at the headmaster, confused. "Sir, what do you mean?"
Cid handed Squall what looked like an official communiqué. "You are both ordered to take the Excalibur to Esthar and meet with President Loire. You will then spend no less than three weeks enjoying yourselves wherever in the world you choose, care of a personal monetary gift from the President. He didn't want the Esthar taxpayers thinking he was spending public funds to send his son and daughter-in-law on a honeymoon."
Rinoa stood up. "Are you serious?"
"Sure as I'm going bald," said the middle-aged man.
Rinoa rushed up to him and hugged him. "Thanks, Headmaster!"
"Sir, I…I don't know what to say," said Squall.
"You could say 'thank you'," said Cid, with a big grin on his face. "Don't forget, you're both being paid to go on this mission, so make sure you fulfill it to the best of your abilities."
Rinoa released her hug slightly and looked at his face, her mouth hanging open. Likewise, Squall's jaw went slack as he heard this development.
"Least we could do for ruining your honeymoon the first time." Cid laughed lightly.
Rinoa let go of Cid and looked at Squall. He couldn't remember her looking more ecstatic. She ran up to him and hugged him hard, letting her feet fly up in the air behind her. Squall reflexively dropped the communiqué on the floor as he grabbed his wife around her waist.
"I assume you're both still packed," said Cid.
"Yes, sir, we are. Three weeks?" Squall confirmed, hoping he heard correctly.
"At least," said Cid. "Just make sure you're back by the time the new cadets arrive next month. The Excalibur is set to launch in thirty minutes."
With a nod and a grin, Cid turned and left the apartment. Squall and Rinoa looked at each other. They were finally getting a honeymoon. They wouldn't have to worry about anyone but each other. Work would actually wait here for them, instead of always finding them at the wrong moment.
"Let's check our bags," said Squall. "I didn't unpack anything, did you?"
"Well," said Rinoa sheepishly, "I got so mad last week when we got assigned to the mission in Winhill that…I, uh…I dumped my suitcases out in disgust." She pointed to the bathroom.
Squall opened the bathroom door and looked inside. He saw three large suitcases lying on the floor, and clothes hanging everywhere, as if they'd been kicked by an angry, young, newly married woman.
He looked back at Rinoa, who just gave him her famous puppy-dog-eyes look. Squall covered his forehead and shook his head. "We've got thirty minutes to organize that mess."
*
Squall and Rinoa carried their bags to Garden's new landing platform, on the second level. Garden had had several improvements added to it when the battle damage from the Second Sorceress War was repaired. The couples' apartments and the landing platform were two of the dozen design improvements that had been added in the past two years.
On the platform stood the Ragnarok, the Esthar-built space plane that had served SeeD as a troop transport and rescue vehicle. Next to the Ragnarok stood the Excalibur, also known as Ragnarok Junior. The Excalibur was the same crimson color and basic shape of the Ragnarok, but was much smaller and fit six people comfortably, or three with cargo. Excalibur had been a gift from Esthar after SeeD helped defend them from a Galbadian invasion.
Zell and Irvine ran up to the couple and took their bags. "Come on, guys," said Zell, "Everyone's been waiting."
The Leonharts walked briskly up to the Excalibur, where all their friends, old and new, were waiting for them. Franz Harmon, Seth Obetz, and Pearl Bugenhagen from the latest class of SeeDs, and Quistis, Selphie, Cid, and Matron Edea. Zell and Irvine tossed the couple's bags into the Excalibur's cargo hold and went to join their friends.
"Guys, we'll miss you," said Rinoa, giving everyone hugs. Squall opted to rub the back of his head with his hand.
"Have fun, Commander!" said Pearl.
"Make sure you go all night long!" added Franz. Pearl elbowed him in the stomach.
"I like that guy," said Irvine.
Seth, probably the shyest male in SeeD, just nodded and smiled at Squall. Squall returned the man's gesture, knowing how uncomfortable the younger one was with interpersonal contact. Hadn't been too long ago that Squall was the same way.
Zell ran up to Squall, rubbed his hand on his shirt, and offered it up for a shake. Surprisingly, Squall took it and gave it a firm, friendly shake. When Squall took his hand back, Zell just stared at his own, incredulously.
"He…he actually…shook my hand! Wow, it's true. Marriage does really change a guy!" commented Zell.
Squall smirked. "Don't let Zell burn the place down, Quistis."
Quistis smiled and gave Squall a hug and a peck on the cheek. Being the Deputy Commander, she would take over Squall's duties while he was gone. "I'll try not to. Might have to tie him up in the basement with some Oilboyles, though."
Zell was still looking at his hand, and ignored the comment. When Quistis let go of Squall, Selphie jumped up to him and gave him an aggressive hug. "You guys make sure to ride on lots of trains, okay?"
Selphie then ran up and hugged Rinoa, who was still hugging Quistis. Rinoa smiled at her, and drew both her friends into a tight embrace. "Just for you, Sefie."
Irvine walked up to Squall, and the two shook hands. Irvine then pulled him into a one-armed hug.
"Take care of the pretty lady, y'hear?" Irvine said.
"Count on it, cowboy," said Squall, patting Irvine on the shoulder.
Lastly, Cid and Edea approached the couple. Matron wore one of the plain dark dresses she had always worn, before she'd been possessed by Ultimecia.
"You two enjoy yourselves," said Edea, with a warm motherly smile. "Enjoy your well-deserved rest."
"We will," said Rinoa. "And thank you both."
"For everything," finished Squall, shaking Cid's hand. Cid nodded and pulled Squall into another one-armed hug.
Once their goodbyes were finished, Squall and Rinoa boarded the Excalibur and closed the hatch. Squall waved once more to everyone as he keyed the engine start-up sequence. Rinoa blew everyone kisses as they backed away, clearing the vessel for launch.
Seconds later, the Excalibur lifted off the Balamb Garden launch pad, and flew off into the eastern sky.
*
Several hours later, Rinoa sat in Squall's lap, as he napped in the pilot's seat of the Excalibur. Rinoa was been looking at travel brochures that Selphie had thoughtfully left them. They could have been in Esthar hours ago, but Squall had purposefully set a slow cruising speed.
He had surprised her soon after liftoff by pulling out a plush rug he'd stashed in one of his bags. Then, he put over the speakers one of the most romantic songs she'd ever heard: Just The Two Of Us, a song that sounded like it had been written just for them. They'd shared a glass of champagne (she still can't figure out how he stashed all the stuff and clothes, too), and then they'd made love on the carpet. Afterward, they'd made love in the co-pilot's seat (which now needed a good cleaning). Afterward, they'd gotten dressed and fell asleep in each other's arms in the pilot's seat.
Guess he was waiting for a place for just the two of us, Rinoa thought. She giggled.
Squall stirred awake a when Rinoa ran her fingers through his mussed dark brown hair. He looked at her, smiled, and asked, "What have you been doing?"
Rinoa nuzzled her lips on his neck. "Looking at travel brochures that Sefie left us. What do you think?"
Squall glanced over a couple of them. "We could always go to Lettsvar, in Trabia. They're having their summer parade some time next week, I think," he said.
"I don't know. I'd kind of rather stay where it's warm, and we can walk around wearing shorts and T-shirts, and not have weapons or GFs weighing us down," replied Rinoa.
"They're locked up in the hold," said Squall. "And I don't plan on taking them out until we land back at Garden. These three weeks will give us memories I definitely don't want to lose."
Rinoa sighed and rested her head on his chest. She agreed whole-heartedly. She stroked his chest under his shirt; he'd left his jacket lying somewhere in the back. If they weren't so close to landing, she'd claim him again. She felt her hormones bubble up inside of her, and from what she felt underneath her, he felt the same. She started kissing the part of his chest that was exposed by his thin white shirt.
Squall purred at the softness of her lips against his hairless chest, and began to stroke her bare leg with his right hand. His left hand worked its way up the back of her shirt, caressing her silky-smooth skin.
Predictably, the panel started beeping.
"We're getting a call from Garden," said Squall. I really hope it's just to say goodbye one last time.
"Don't answer it, Squall," said Rinoa. "If they want us to come back, I think I'll just have to kill them." And part of me is dead serious about that. She continued kissing Squall's chest, and started moving up to his neck.
"There's a text page coming through, too."
Rinoa picked her head up and looked at the readout. It said Hey Squall, pick up. Just want to say goodbye before you land.
"Whatever," said Squall. "We're ten minutes from landing anyway, so might as well say hello and goodbye."
He took his hand off Rinoa's leg and pressed the Audio Only button. The beeping stopped, followed by a female voice: "Balamb Base to Ragnarok. Come in guys."
"Hey, Quisty. What's up?" said Squall
"Just wanted to say goodbye one last time. Looks like ten minutes until you land."
"Yeah," said Squall. "We're just getting ready to go off autopilot."
"Hey, Quisty!" said Rinoa.
"Hey, Rinny! How's your honeymoon treating you so far?"
"Well, not much so far," said Rinoa. Squall shot her a questioning look. "Flight's been kind of boring, actually."
Squall gave her a look of mock hurt. Rinoa just returned his look with one of cute innocence. Squall slid his right hand around her side, under her arm, and began tickling her.
Rinoa burst out into laughter as she flailed her arms, trying to get him to stop. When she couldn't, she drove a hand under one of his arms and began tickling him. He, likewise, started laughing uncontrollably.
Wonder if anyone would believe that the great Squall Leonhart is ticklish? thought Rinoa.
"Hey, stop it you two," said Quistis, obviously trying to suppress her giggles.
Squall and Rinoa declared a temporary truce, long enough for Squall to land them. After that, thought Rinoa, he's fair game.
"We're approaching Esthar's landing pattern, Quist," said Squall. "How's everything…"
Suddenly, there was a loud crash and an explosion. Rinoa screamed as they were both thrown out of their seat onto the deck.
"What the hell…? Quistis, we're under attack!" shouted Squall.
No response. The radio must have cut out.
"Quistis!" shouted Squall again.
There was another crash and explosion, and the couple felt sudden weightlessness as the Excalibur went into a freefall.
"Squall!" cried Rinoa. Squall grabbed her and held her close. With her in tow, he grabbed at the front panel to trigger the cockpit ejection. When he finally reached the ejection control, he mashed the glass with his fist, triggering the button below.
Nothing happened. The latches must have gotten damaged in the explosions.
"We can't eject! There's no way out!"
Rinoa closed her eyes tightly, trying to shut out the growing whine as the Excalibur streaked out of the sky.
"What do we do, Squall?" she cried. They couldn't die. They had so much left to do. She had so much left to say to him.
Squall looked out the forward window and saw the ground, indicating they were in a nosedive. They were falling rapidly. I don't think we have more than twenty seconds until impact. The cockpit couldn't eject, and if they opened the outer hatch and tried to jump out, even with parachutes or Float spells, both they and the ship would be torn apart by the sudden change in air pressure.
Squall grabbed Rinoa tightly, and she did the same to him. "I love you Rin," Squall said.
Rinoa's heart dropped. He'd given up. He wouldn't do that unless the situation was utterly hopeless. Tears flowed out of her eyes and began to float away from them.
"I love you too, Squall."
*
"Hey, stop it you two," said Quistis. A tickle fight? That's something I never expected Squall to get involved in. Both Quistis and Pearl, the communications operator, tried unsuccessfully to suppress giggles. Maybe they should know that Pearl could hear everything they were saying, too. At least they were the only two in the command center wearing headphones.
She heard their laughing die down into sighs. Then Squall said, "We're approaching Esthar's landing pattern, Quist. How's everything…"
His voice was cut off by a loud clanking sound, and what sounded like an explosion.
"What the…" Squall's voice was cut off by static.
"Squall? Squall! Pearl, what happened?" Quistis demanded.
"I…I don't know, ma'am," said Pearl, quickly keying her console, trying to restore the link.
"March, put their radar image on the main screen," Quistis ordered to the radar operator. March, a senior year cadet on a work training detail, quickly punched up the image to the large screen at the front of the room.
"What happened?" repeated Quistis.
"I-it looks like something hit them and exploded, ma'am. But nothing came up on the radar!" said March.
"It definitely sounded like a crash, and then an explosion," said Pearl.
Quistis put her hand up to her mouth. "Pearl, contact Esthar on the emergency channel, Priority One, and inform them that President Loire's guests are in serious trouble. Give them the Excalibur's coordinates and tell them there's been an explosion on board."
"Ma'am," said March, "They're losing altitude rapidly now. They're about to fall below radar."
"Track them as long as possible." Said Quistis. She keyed the intercom. "This is Deputy Commander Quistis Trepe. We need an emergency rescue crew to the Ragnarok on the double. Commander Leonhart's shuttle is in danger." She dared not say more, until she knew what was happening.
"Ma'am, they've dropped below radar," said March. He could only slightly disguise the shock in his voice. "The escape pod never launched. It's possible it was damaged in the explosion. And at the speed they were falling…"
March didn't have time to finish the sentence. Quistis threw off her headphones and ran out to the Ragnarok, meeting the emergency rescue crew there. As she ordered the crew aboard, and then boarded herself, she couldn't escape one thought.
If they didn't eject, they're dead now.
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Author's note: The version of Just The Two Of Us I referred to here is the version by Grover Washington Jr. Listen to it, and you'll see why I picked it J.