DISCLAIMER:I own nothing you recognize.

Chapter One:

Rinoa stood panting in the training center. Taking a moment from her morning workout to wipe the sweat from her brow.

When she woke up this morning, in Squall's bed it had brought a smile to her face and a slight blush to her cheeks until she reached for him and found his space on the bed cold and empty. It was a Monday, of course he was already gone. He had work to do. Especially if he was to make sure to be free for their anniversary getaway this weekend. The room may have been dark with shadows but she suddenly felt too wound up to even think straight. She so badly wanted this weekend with him. Squall was always so busy. Sometimes she wondered if being Commander was really what he wanted but any attempt by her to bring up such an issue was met with his steely glare and/or a blasé 'Whatever'. The thought wound her spine a little tighter. She pulled on her sneakers to finish her jogging gear and began a few easy stretches to loosen up her muscles. She knew just what to do to blow off this excess steam, it was nothing a good run through the tunnels couldn't cure. It was one thing her and Squall had in common now; a love of the training center.

It was also one of the first things that Squall as Commander had renovated once the revenue from Ultemecia's defeat came rolling in. The entire Training Center had been remodeled and expanded to include a sort of gauntlet with the deeper areas catering to the more skilled of the Garden's cadets. It was pretty nifty actually, Rinoa had to admit. A marvel of science, magic, and creative engineering. She wasn't one hundred percent sure about the details but she knew it took full advantage of the buildings ancient Centra origins.

She never used to love battle. She remembered trying to explain to the others that feeling she used to get of being left behind… that was before she had become a sorceress…

Another crunching noise behind her brought her back to the task at hand. She was in the "fire cave" section and so it was ice she had flowing through her veins. She had a spell ready, she could feel it flowing out and down her arm as she spun slowly on her heel to face whatever poor monster had mistakenly thought he was about to have lunch.

She took only a second to hold it- no more that a breath to savor the feel of power and observe the monster's small impish body before releasing the blast of ice. It enveloped the creature completely from the tips of the wildly spinning wings to the creepy little face at the center before shattering in a shower of icy shards and a blast of cool air. It would have been a great relief from the heat, but since she was channeling the ice already, she was cold on the inside. She tried not to let the power cloud her thoughts. The monster wasn't alone, so she continued forward in a smooth dance-like motion, her hands seemed to draw two crystalline ice shards and sent them flying forward to spear the two other monsters. Their burning jack-o-lantern-esque faces fell to the ground like misshapen tiki-torches, forever extinguished.

She breathed as she continued the motion just as her instructor had taught her, bringing her hands in and drawing her body up to an elegant end pose. Fist meeting open palm, slight bow from the neck, exhale. She ended her little Zen moment by tucking her hair behind her hair behind her ears and groaning. That near overwhelming feeling of being a wind up toy some overzealous person had wound far too tight still lingered in her muscles. She mentally shook herself and jogged onward. Pounding out her extra magic induced energy in running the gauntlet.

The fire was raging all around her. In the pools of lava slowly oozing about its pathway and that overall feeling of being inside a volcano. Sure she knew it was mostly some creative illusionary whatnot and most of her surroundings were man made. Even so, the lava was most certainly still hot and the monsters still meant business. Steam rolled off her lithe body in waves as she flowed through what even some of the higher ranking SeeDs considered a tough course. She almost seemed to have her eyes closed as she spun and twirled, her ice flowing effortlessly out from her core to swirl about her arms and down and out from her fingers with deadly intent and a beautiful wash of silver and blue colors. If anyone could have seen her like this they would be entranced at the beauty but,. would also have trouble reconciling this deadly creature in front of them with the image of the care-free teenage girl they had found on that train in Timber three years ago.

Perhaps that was the reason why she hardly allowed anyone to accompany her on her early morning stress-relief-work-out. She never wanted to see fear in someone's eyes when they looked at her. She got enough of that already just because of what she was. They didn't need to see what she could actually do. It was enough that she had helped save the world from the clutches of an evil sorceress from the future. And, of course, no one could claim she needed to be sealed because she had the whole of SeeD keeping tabs on her.

Rinoa paused for a moment, again, breathing deeply and trying to settle her fraying nerves. She had come to the end of the 'course'. She could see the odd little exit sign hanging above the completely obvious plain metal door built straight into the wall of the 'volcano'. She also knew that a Ruby Dragon had taken to residing in this area. Those Bombs and that Buel were nothing compared to this guy. SeeDs in training were a glutton for punishment.

Rinoa snorted to herself as she eyed the door and the cavern area surrounding it with a cautious eye.

She didn't immediately see him lurking about, and the pale circle of light illuminating the door and a pitifully small space of floor in front of it was terribly inviting. Downright disconcerting… She scrunched her brow and weighed her chances. He was a tough old buster. Whoever was responsible for that sort of thing had filled these tunnels with plenty of baddies from the lunar cry. There were always plenty of monsters to go around for years after one of those. SeeDs in training are gluttons for punishment, after all.

Meh, I'll make it. No problem. Rinoa closed her eyes and reached inside herself to draw the spell for time she had in mind. She used some of the imagery Quistis had taught her and thought of a clock spinning forward. Even Edea said, "Whether you are using Para-magic or your Hyne given abilities, imagery is a very useful tool".

Rinoa leaned forward and took a deep breath before diving forward racing for the door.

She hadn't even made it halfway before she saw a slow motion mass of red scales slink into the pale circle of light that was currently her destination. She meant to reach for a stop spell but knew with the dragon's thick hide it was a long shot. Instead, and even while she was thinking that to herself, her body had already put her into the motions. The ice in her veins ran colder, suddenly, and she spun with her momentum and brought the ice out with her exhale and a blizzard of cold stopped the hot blooded dragon in his tracks just as effectively.

He twinkled angrily at her, encased completely in ice.

She stopped with her hand on the door and smiled. He makes a very lovely ice sculpture. I'd probably think of a name for him but with the heat in here I'm sure he will be all melted and back to normal in no time. She chuckled to herself and decided she would, in fact, come up with a name for the rough old dragon anyway. She didn't see him every time… and eventually someone was bound to take him down. Better not to get attached…. But it would be rather amusing.

As if in reward for what, for most SeeDs, would surely be a grueling test of skill, the random ass industrial steel door stood there expectantly. She turned away from the dragon, opened the door and stepped inside.

The blast of cool air-conditioning that greeted her in the little rest area would have been a vast improvement to the lava cave she had just come from but again she was channeling the cold already so she just shivered in her morning jogging clothes. It may be a little disconcerting to walk in here from out there but it reminded you that you weren't lost and alone in some dark fire filled dungeon, but in a level of the training center at Garden.

The door to the cavern closed behind her with a quiet click! And the door beeped at her to signal that it had locked. From this side, one needed to be a certain rank (or have her connections) to be allowed entrance to train within. For the safety of the younger cadets trying to impress their friends on a dare, or something like that. Stranger things had happened.

The little rest area consisted of a small couch, a water fountain, and bathrooms, even little ferns in the corners… as well as one of Selphie's inventions: a vending machine that sold health recovery items as well as drinks and snacks to perk up any weary SeeD running a lap through the tough levels.

Rinoa made a beeline for the elevator that would take her back up. Passing right by the helpful little machine, she didn't need any potions. Her magic would last as long as she would. Some days she would run all the way down the gauntlet only to turn around and run right back up. But that was only on the really hard days. Luckily, this wasn't one of those days, and she was ready to head back up top and face the day. She stepped inside the elevator and turned to press the buttons on the ultra sleek control panel. She immediately noticed that her finger left a ring of frost on the button.

She shivered again.

A glance down to her shoes revealed the ring of frost creeping out from where she stood. She needed to rein it in. Time to let go of the cold.

But the warmth always brought the feelings. No one outside of their little circle really accepted her. The ones that seemed okay with her were always careful to pretend that she wasn't a sorceress. Once she had gotten over her initial shock at what she had become, and began her days working with Edea she had learned that a good way to keep you powers under your own control was to use them frequently, like opening a door before she touched it or chilling a soda that had gotten hot just by picking up the can or bottle That way it wouldn't build up and lash out in a fit of emotion. Unfortunately, such blatant use of her powers tended to make people even more nervous.

Rinoa was rather prone to emotional outbursts. She was a woman ruled by her heart. Just look at her work in the Forest Owls. Freeing Timber had been her passion. She had come a long way since her days of plunking down on the floor with her fellow Owls to formulate high tech plans. But Timber was free now. The world was saved. No one wanted a sorceress around anymore. In fact, there was usually outright animosity and fear.

She clenched a fist and tried to focus on something other than her reflection in the glossy doors of the elevator and the place her thoughts were taking her…

Let's just say I'm glad Laguna is President of Esthar. She thought to herself.

Edea had warned her in their lessons to find a soothing place she could go to in her mind. A place to ground herself in what kept her sane when the power left her feeling a little on the dark side…

She always pictured their place. The flower field at the orphanage. The place she had found him even as they were adrift in time. She went there now, the ice pumping in her veins and her pounding heart faded as she let her mind imagine the feel of the wind in her hair and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance. The breeze brought the scent of the flowers to her nose and she could even feel the sun on her face. It made her smile. She pictured it in her mind as clear as crystal. The seemingly endless fields of flowers and beautiful green grasses blowing gently in the breeze. She knew the lighthouse and the ocean were picturesque as well but she never thought of them when she pictured this place. Why turn around when the flowers were beauty enough?

She did however, picture him. Her knight. She opened her eyes and the image held. Her magic and her heart willing her eyes to see what her memory knew was there.

The flowers. The way the sun glinted down through the clouds to bring out the colors as they swayed in the light breeze.

She felt him behind her. His presence was a warmth at her back to chase the last of the chill out from her veins. She dared not move, lest she lose the image, letting her mind drift down the bond between them to summon the feel of her knight wrapping his arms around her waist. The soft musky smell of him mixed with the sweet smell of the flowers.

Ping!

The sound of the elevator reaching its requested floor ruined the scene before her, but she let it go. Her mind was calm and her heart no longer felt pumped by ice and doubt. She remembered she was loved.

Rinoa stepped out of the elevator and into what was commonly known as The Secret Place though she wasn't sure why since everyone knew where this was…

Her tennis shoes made no noise when she crossed the polished stone floors heading for the entrance out into the main, and original, section of the training center. There were people here already. Lounging in the break area in a momentary reprieve or making last minute preparations before heading down into the lower levels in pairs of two and three. Checking her watch she noticed it was half past five.

Early SeeD catches the good training time? She didn't make eye contact, keeping her eyes on the prize. An opening, her quick exit back to the part of garden where her friends were waking to start their days.

All except Squall, who had been absent from the bed when she had woken up that morning. Unfortunately, this one wasn't a surprise. He was always so busy and though she had convinced him she might as well be allowed to "sleep over" in his dorm as she certainly didn't have one of her own and it wasn't like anyone at Garden didn't know who she was. Especially where Squall Leonheart came in. They were an item. The "it" couple. If ever there was an "it" couple where the one hardly spoke to those outside their group and the other was a "scary sorceress".

Rinoa quickly descended down the steps from the secret place and cast another haste spell to quickly dash through the original training center, with its simple Grats and grassy dirty industrial meets forest thing. She was getting pretty drained… the last thing she needed was to get caught off guard by a T-Rexaur at the end if her morning jog. She slowed down to a normal walking speed once she was through the solid steel doors that kept the wildlife contained and out of the classrooms.

She took a second to dust herself off and straighten her sweaty running clothes before heading out into the bright lights of morning at Garden. She wondered as she walked on if she should head to her dorm she normally shared with Quistis and change before she did anything. A shower after that workout seemed important. A loud rumble from her stomach told her maybe she needed to adjust her priorities.

She sighed to herself as she walked down the familiar unadorned hallway that joined the original training center and its newer "lower levels" to Garden's main bulk and beautiful marble floors, and elaborate fountains. She crossed over the painted marble bridges into Garden's main area. The water sloshing about soothingly below her. Now was not the time to get caught up on other peoples prejudices. Who here would really care if she had frozen monster bits melting in her hair?

She followed the convenient colored arrows in the floors that directed her to the cafeteria, hoping against hope she might pass a mirror on the way, surely it wasn't that bad. She ran her fingers through her hair nervously.

In the intervening three years since Ultemecia's defeat, she had spent a significant portion of her time at Garden. She had all her friends here. The commander was her knight. Though he struggled with finding a balance between the two jobs. Both seemed to need more of his time than there were hours in the day.

The line from the cafeteria was already long and she groaned, looking up at the vaulted ceilings. She allowed herself a moment to picture casting a mass stop spell and just bum rushing the counter, but decided against it. Edea would surely scold her for that one, if she found out….

Instead, she decided to occupy her grumbling stomach temporarily with the thoughts of the juicy breakfast burrito she was about to get.

Mmmm, cheesy, eggy, sausagey, melted goodness… Her mouth began to water.

She eyed the persons already in the line, while trying not to look like that what she was doing. Still after all this time they made her nervous. It wasn't at all because she was hoping to cut in line …per se… but to see if maybe she wanted to hang back a second and wait for some-

"Rinoa! Hey girl, over here," she saw Zell waving at her frantically. Still in his pajamas yet he had taken the time to style his hair in its customary front spike thing. She smiled and headed his way. Taking absolutely no time to notice the semi-dark glances she was getting from the few people she was passing. At least Zell wasn't all the way in the front. They didn't come out and say anything, however, maybe they didn't want to stand next to her either.

She took a second, just a second, to picture the flowers. Happy Face.

"Morning, Zell!" She chirped as she slid in next to him, smiling apologetically at the girl in pigtails and bunny slippers directly behind them. The girl stuck her tongue out. Rinoa laughed.

"It's burrito day!" Zell notified her, despite the large well lit menu hung above the counter before them. "But we made sure to get here early, so we'll be alright. Man if there is one thing Garden does well, other than their hot dogs, and, you know, the whole mercenary thing-" he waved his hand dismissively, " Breakfast is their thing!

Rinoa laughed.

Zell smiled back proudly and they moved an ooch forward in line. Her stomach rumbled. Maybe she should try substituting the zen burrito image with her flower scene for calming herself. She snorted and Zell eyed her suspiciously. Oops. He had been saying something and she was off in lala land…

"I'm sorry, Zell, what was that?" She apologized.

They moved forward again.

"You been down the gauntlet already this morning?" He watched her reaction carefully as they moved another step closer to making that delicious breakfast burrito image in her mind a reality. She could almost take the cheese covered jalapenos they sometimes put in there if you asked real nice…

"Don't space out on me, Rin. I can tell, you know." He gestured to her hair. "You have these odd frosty bits in your hair… yet you're already all sweaty." He grinned at her before attempting to deadpan his follow up, "There aren't many things that can get you all sweaty and covered in snow this early in the morning and I happen to know for a fact that Squall is already in the office sooo…" He arched an eyebrow at her.

Rinoa blushed a deep crimson and considered hitting him with a silence spell before he could finish that statement. He wisely left it at that. She went back to brushing her fingers frantically through her hair so she didn't look like she had been in the tunnels this morning.

Luckily, before she could dredge up a suitable sarcastic comeback, they reached their destination at the front of the line.

The tired looking woman didn't even crack a smile when Rinoa mustered her sweetest voice and asked for jalapenos on her burrito. She did put some on there though. Rinoa thanked her and slid her ID card to pay.

She may not be a student, but Squall had made sure they got her an ID card so that she could get whatever she needed and to wherever she needed to go when she wasn't actually with one of them. Cid had begrudgingly agreed, and had even set her up with a little account connected to her ID like every student here. Only since she did not have a Rank and paycheck coming in, Squall had insisted her ID be connected to his account so she wouldn't have to go without. She had originally bristled at the thought. She was perfectly capable of feeding herself… but one time caught in the tunnels without any back up and a close call with a tough monster had landed her in the infirmary. It wasn't terribly serious. She had just ran herself too hard and drained her magic, and thusly herself, completely dry. She made it to the safety of one of the training center's rest areas but with no way to get any potions or sustenance from those helpful little machines it had ended up being a close thing. She slept for the next day and a half while Squall worried and had flash backs of her in a coma.

After having him climbing the walls in her infirmary, Dr. Kadawoki had come up with the idea and insisted to Cid that it would be a good one. It wasn't as if she could use the ID card anywhere outside of garden, or that she would do such a thing behind Squall's back in any case.

They walked together over to a table a little away from the main congregation of SeeDs and students and everyone else as the cafeteria had begun to fill in earnest. Zell continued with mindless small talk as Rinoa daydreamed about her and Squall's upcoming weekend getaway. She knew that many cities had been building up their beautiful scenic areas for ritzy condos and hotel resorts in an effort to boost tourism. Some of them had become very popular. She was deep in a fantasy involving one of these resorts and a mud bath and facial when she realized Zell was asking her a question.

"Hmm?" She smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Zell, I must not be really awake yet."

"I said, How are you doing? Turn anyone into a toad lately?" Zell, unlike most of the Garden's populace, loved to hear all about her magical affliction. She wondered if he would like to see her on a bad day in the tunnels? Her powers had not gotten weaker over time, after all. She once had argued with Edea that she wasn't going to use her powers any more. That she was going to just act normal and live life like a regular human girl. It had lasted almost a month, She had actually thought it was going to work. She ignored Edea's warnings, and sure enough during an argument with her father at his mansion in Deling City, she had accidentally shattered all the windows in his study and turned his beautiful mahogany desk into a raging inferno of paperwork. They hadn't really spoken much since then. Her father, ironically, was one of those people who wanted her to pretend to be normal.

After that she had taken to Edea's teachings and lessons like a chocobo to a forest. Her powers had grown, but so had her confidence in herself. She no longer felt left behind among her friends in SeeD. She could more than hold her own. And, in fact, she had been talking about getting in a few days of meditation and lessons with her teacher would be a good way to pass the time while she waited for her anniversary getaway with her knight. A very much needed getaway, indeed. For both of them. Squall had been stressed to the max lately. Working long hours and it seemed the list of things to be handled by the commander was endless.

She opted to tell him that she was planning to have a fun relaxing few days filled with toasting monster ass like marshmallows with Edea. Telling him I'm probably going to be meditating just won't put that same excited twinkle in his eye.

He cackled maniacally and took another behemoth bite of his burrito.

"Nah, I'm in need of some deep meditation before this weekend at the resort. I'd sure hate to shock some poor shmuck on the beach by doing something all sorceress-y like get pissed at the poor room service and cause a tsunami." She chuckled at the thought. "Though Leviathan would approve."

"Oh that's this weekend, already?" He said sarcastically. She had been excited about this trip since they booked it months ago. Woe be to whatever superior tried to make him stay in the office this weekend.

She nodded. "Yes, Zell, we are staying at the Elysium Resort on the Lallapalazo Islands. This time Saturday morning I will be taking a mud bath and getting all the best spa treatments." She smiled dreamily, clearly picturing it.

"Isn't that the place that got famous for being haunted and where the guy brought his wife and kid there and he ended up loosing his mind and trying to kill them because the hotel was evil?"

Rinoa blinked at him before bursting out into laughter. Zell scratched his head, not sure what she was laughing at since he was terribly serious. He decided to move on to the other part of her statement. The one concerning the spa treatment/pampering preceding days at the orphanage. "You don't need to do any training. Since we offed Ultemecia that makes you the most powerful sorceress alive!" He flexed his muscles for emphasis as if that was where her magic muscles were too.

She started to make another sarcastic remark but then a thought struck her. Were there any other sorceress even out there? Was she the only one other than Edea? And of course the Matron had passed her powers on so she didn't count anymore. Most of the sorceresses she knew of had done terrible things. As, of course, power corrupts. There were always ways to stand against the madness. Like Rinoa, they could be tethered to a knight, and have a circle of friends to keep her mind and heart centered in the light. Surely she could not be the only one left. That was such a strange thought. Could there be others in hiding? Other women like her who tried to live life in a prejudiced world? She started to open her mouth to voice her hypothesis to Zell, but before she could Quistis joined them at the table.

She smiled at them both and everyone exchanged their good mornings. Quistis looked stunning as usual and she was wearing her full SeeD uniform. Sharing a dorm with Quistis, even part time since Rinoa wasn't always at Garden had been amazing. She loved the way the woman let her hair down when it was just the two of them. They had many a night staying up chomping popcorn and watching bad late night horror movies. Not to mention she always kept the place tidy and she had a secret fondness for lemon scented air fresheners and candles. Selphie was there with them some times too, and those were the best nights. Whoever said you grow out of having sleepovers was ridiculous.

But Selphie had sort of her own thing going on with Irvine. Despite his flirty manner, that cowboy was completely enamored with her. Quistis and Rinoa had already placed bets on when their wedding would be. Rinoa also noticed Quistis had only a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Oh, I've already had breakfast," the blond said, noting her friends gaze. "I have my first class right after breakfast." She took a sip of her coffee and smiled, proudly. And indeed, she was once again the youngest Instructor in the history of Garden. The had initially dismissed her due to a lack of control over an unruly student. Though after her part in saving the world they seemed to have changed their tunes. Teaching brought her great joy, even when she was dealing with those few students who seemed to be in love with her. "I've also come to tell you Cid wants to see us in his office after the last bell this afternoon."

Zell arched his eyebrow at her, waiting for more.

"He was a little vague on the details, he just requested our presence," She brushed a hand down the front of her perfectly pressed SeeD uniform before changing the subject. "Did you hear the rumors of that archaeological dig site at the Centra Ruins?"

"Sure, I heard some privately funded group has been down there over a month now searching the ruins," Know-it-all Zell offered typically, accepting the change in the direction of the conversation. This time with a mouth full of burrito. "The real kicker is no one knows why, or what they're looking for. They don't do interviews either."

Rinoa was simultaneously disgusted and strangely fascinated. How does he enunciate with that much food in his mouth? If she tried to do that she would have sprayed cheesy eggs all over her friends.

She looked at Quistis who shrugged and opted to just ignore it and continue. "Um, yes, precisely." The blond said.

Rinoa eyed her plate, intrigued. Everyone knew the Centra Ruins was a site infested with dangerous monsters, and that anything of historical significance had long since been cataloged, studied or removed and whatever else in the last hundred years since the fall of their civilization.

"What do you think they are looking for?" Rinoa asked, curiously.

"Hyne only knows, but I suppose they aren't doing any harm, so far as anyone can tell." Quistis shrugged and sipped her coffee.

Rinoa smiled and nodded, then it hit her, "Wait! Squall was supposed to be free this weekend! We had plans…" She looked at the floor. Of course this was going to happen. This always happened. The Very stars and planets aligned to counter her happiness. Her eyes began to burn and she felt her lip quiver. Dammit! I will not cry.

Quistis' eyes softened, even before a tear could fall she knew her friend was hurting. "Don't worry, Rin. Nothing is concrete yet. Not to mention we are just meeting with them to see what they want us to do. Even if we decide to take the mission, which is highly possible considering Squall's relationship to Esthar's president, Squall personally probably wont be on this mission. As acting commander he just gets to choose who does do it. See?"

Rinoa wiped at her eyes, ashamed at her reaction. Of course, he would delegate this one. He knew how important this was to her. How they had planned it months in advance to book the resort and for him to make sure no one dare ask him to work that weekend. Hell, she had even arranged for Angelo to stay at the orphanage with Edea while she was gone. That way the dog would be cared for and have more room to frolic than she would if kept here at Garden.

She had just panicked, old habits die hard, after all. This wouldn't be the first time they had to cancel something.

Rinoa followed the SeeDs out of the cafeteria until they parted ways so she could head to her dorm to shower. Quistis promised the sorceress she would be there to see her off before she left Garden.

Rinoa hitched her bag more comfortably on her shoulder and shielded her eyes against the glare of the setting sun off of the oceans waves as the was lowered. Sure she could have flown down with her magic, she could have flown here from the Gotland Peninsula where Garden had been anchored last night. She humored them however and waited.

Quistis hugged her and patted Angelo on the head. Selphie did the same, and even Zell had turned up to see the sorceress off. Rinoa smiled and told all her friends to be careful on the mission. It was a little strange not having any idea what they were really walking in to. She trusted their judgment, however, and Squall's, though she sometimes worried about Cid. He sometimes failed to stand up for what was right when faced with adversity. Pressure from on high was always his downfall and he tended to run when things got rough. He had a big heart, though, and she knew that.

She was stalling. Rinoa stubbed the toe of her shoe against the metal floor of the lowered ramp. She sighed, starting to think he wouldn't be there to say 'Goodbye."

Just then, she saw him and her whole world felt right. He had eyed only for her as he pulled her into a tight embrace, before taking her back in one hand and with his other he took her hand and laced their fingers.

The bond had gotten stronger between them over time, and while he still wasn't very good at expressing his feelings, he had gotten the hang of expressing himself to her in other ways. Namely physical ones. The thought made Rinoa blush.

Squall arched an eyebrow at her before turning to their friends, "I'm walking her over." He gave a loose salute and led her down the ramp and up the hill to Edea's Orphanage.

After the downfall of Ultemecia, Cid and Edea had renovated to Orphanage. Returning it to its former glory, The Beautiful architecture of the ancient building returned to its glossy finish. The white stone columns were all standing and all the walls and roofing were as good as new. The inside was more beautiful than it had been in the last hundred years since the downfall of the Centra people and the lunar cry that devastated this entire continent.

Rinoa knocked once of the polished heavy oak doors before letting herself inside. She walked across the new marble floors Edea had picked out to compliment the natural design of the building. She couldn't count the number of hours she had spent with Edea looking at samples of fabric for curtains and furniture and pictures of rugs and paintings out of magazines. But it had made the old sorceress happy and given her something to focus her own energy on. She deserved it. And now the place was something she could be truly proud of. She secretly hoped to one day pass the old place on to one of her children. She never had any kids of her own, but yet they were all hers in their own way. Their children would be her grandchildren.

Matron came out of the back somewhere to greet Rinoa warmly with a kiss to each cheek. Squall she gave a long hug before pulling him back to look him over with a practiced eye.

"You need to eat more. And work less. You are wearing thin, Squall Leonheart." She gestured for him to take Rinoa's bags back to her usual room. After she was settled, the couple had let Angelo out to romp in the flowers, Squall and Rinoa following behind sedately.

"Rinoa, this mission," He began. She stumbled for the words he wanted. "If I can delegate this I will, know that." He finally said.

Rinoa wanted to shout. If? What the hell does he mean, 'If'? The wind picked up a notch as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why would you not? Why would you need to handle this personally?" She tried to keep her voice steady, but it cracked slightly on the last word.

Squall sighed and brushed her hair out of her dangerously flashing eyes. He was undaunted by the storm raging just under the surface of her calm exterior. Though through the bond they shared, he could sense it.

He pulled her into his arms. She wanted to resist, to be strong until she had the answer from him she needed, but she had always been helpless against him. It was a tactic he had exploited as soon as he discovered it. He always said a SeeD always understood his targets weakness. . He whispered the next in her ears, "You're right. I am just worried because I don't know what we are walking in to. And Cid is ready to sit up and beg for the check they are planning to write us for this one."

Rinoa swallowed and remained silent. No need to stop him while he was on a roll. He wasn't always so verbose. This was practically a speech from him, and she didn't want her own opinions to ruin it.

He tilted her chin up until he could capture her lips with his. The kissed with all the heat of their young love. He trailed his fingers up and down her arms teasingly trying to calm her. She gazed over his shoulder at the setting sun, trying to calm her anger. Where does one go to find their center when they are already standing in their happy place?

Thank you for reading! I am very excited about this story, i can't even say it! GAH! Anyway, without further ado- REVIEW! I've already written the next two chapters and i'll go ahead and post them as soon as my beta has a chance to go over them.

-Lupa