Author's note: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list iota. This is set after the game and is slightly AU. Theme 2: Who's Asking Who?
Popping the Question
Seifer sighed as he felt the hot water hit his tired muscles. It was good to be home. The last six months had been spent on a hellish undercover mission. The SeeDs he had been working with were morons, and the mission hadn't gone well at all. Oh, they had accomplished the mission objectives, but instead of two weeks it had taken them six months to accomplish them. All he wanted right now was a hot shower, a decent meal, his girlfriend, and a good night's sleep. He hadn't seen or heard from Quistis since this stupid mission started, and he he'd missed her presence.
Shutting the water off, Seifer climbed out of the shower. Food was next on his list. Then he'd track down Quistis and let her know he was home before retiring for the night. Anything else could wait until tomorrow. He pulled on a loose pair of sweatpants, heading back for the bedroom. Hopefully, there some clean clothes in his dressed. At least, he thought he had done the laundry before he left for the mission.
He blinked. Quistis was perched on his bed, dressed in a baggy sweatshirt she had stolen from his closet when they started dating. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, and her long hair had been pulled back into a single braid. He hadn't seen anything as beautiful in months. Seifer smiled. "Hey. I was going to go looking you."
She smiled weakly. "Marry me."
Seifer blinked again. "What?"
Her eyes were serious. "I'm asking you, Seifer Almasy, to marry me."
"Why?" He had thought about it before. They had been dating for nearly two years now, and he knew that he loved her. Of course, he had been planning on doing the asking. That and having an engagement ring.
"I love you." Quistis' eyes were bright. "I missed you. And I've been thinking about this a lot."
She dropped her legs, and he could see her swollen belly. Her smile was luminous as she wrapped her arms around it. He felt his jaw drop.
"Six and half months. It was probably that night after the mission in Esthar when they gave us the honeymoon suite by accident." She blushed. "I found out two months after you left, and they wouldn't let me send you a message."
Seifer reached forward to touch her stomach. He pressed his hand flat against the swell of their child.
"I've managed to keep it quiet so far. Only Edea, Cid, and Dr. Kadowaki know. I wanted you to know before I made any announcements." Quistis bit her lip. "Do you mind?"
He knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Do you want this child?"
"Yes."
His next question was harder to ask. "Do you want me in your life permanently, Quistis? Once I have you, I'm not going to let you go. I'm not going to abandon you or our child just because we're not married."
Quistis smile was nearly incandescent. "I love you. I want and love this child, and I want a life with you."
Seifer kissed her. "Good."
"So is that a yes?"
"What do you think?" He kissed her again then dropped a kiss on her belly. "Of course."