Title: Chances

Rating: G

Disclaimer: No copyright laws were harmed during the making of this story. I own nothing, and receive no money. Please do not sic rabid attack lawyers on me.

Summary: Post-game. Quistis has just left Cid's new office, after speaking to him about the possibility of Seifer returning to Garden. Cid and Edea discuss.

Author's Note: This vignette will hopefully become part of a much larger story I write in the future. It is currently un-beta'ed.

o o o

The door closed, and Cid let out a tired sigh. "I really don't know what she expects me to do. Even before all this, Seifer was nothing but trouble. And now, after all that he's done, she wants us to welcome him back as if nothing happened?" He rubbed the bridge of his nose, above his glasses, trying to stave off a migraine.

Edea gently touched her husband's shoulder. "I know it's difficult, love, trying to keep Garden together with all that's going on. And with Ultimecia gone, it's easy to hold up the one who is left as being responsible for the war and the chaos and the loss of life. But it really isn't all Seifer's fault."

Cid looked up sharply at his wife. "How can you say that? He willingly sided with the Sorceress, led an attack against his own Garden, tortured our people, and helped nearly destroy the world!"

In response to her husband's agitation, Edea made her expression even more serene and calm. "Cid. Everyone has a breaking point, certain lines they can't cross, however much they know what needs to be done. Think about it. I know the real reason you put Squall in command; you couldn't face the prospect of leading an attack against me, potentially killing me, even though we'd known for years that it might turn out that way." Cid broke eye contact, looking down at the floor. "But I don't blame you for that," she continued. "Everyone has their limits, things they can't do, no matter what. And…" She paused, taking a slow, deep breath. "And that's what happened with Seifer."

Cid turned his head toward her, but didn't raise his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Edea sat down on the edge of the desk, staring at the empty space in front of her. "I raised him, Cid. I was the closest thing he had to a mother. I knew him inside and out; his emotions, his fears, his hopes. And when Ultimecia took control of me, she knew them too. I knew just what to say to him to trigger emotional reactions. I knew his weaknesses. I manipulated him, forced him to that breaking point, so that he felt he had no choice except to do what I commanded. I played off his emotions, kept him focused on his rivalry with Squall and on his dream of being a knight, so that he wouldn't think too hard about right and wrong. I… I made him do what he did."

Cid heard the tightness in her voice, as it fought its way through the emotions that closed up her throat. Tears spilled down her cheeks. He was immediately at her side, clasping her hands in one of his, the other hand gently wiping the tears from her face. "It wasn't you, love; it was Ultimecia. You had nothing to do with it."

Her eyes found their focus on his face. "Yes, I did. I knew him as a mother knows a son, and it was that knowledge that betrayed him. He did what he did because of me. And I will not see him suffer for it."

Cid slipped his arms around his wife, gently stroking her hair. "All right, my love. We'll give him another chance."