Well, here's the last part. This is the happy version, so please, tell me which you all prefer. I like them both personally, but hey. To each their own.

Now, on to the story.


Chapter 3: "I Will Make Sure Of It"

Squall knew he had two choices-let Seifer run off now and risk losing him but maybe get Matron there in time to help, or run after Seifer to stop him himself but risk not being able to stop him alone. Squall didn't know how he really felt for Seifer yet, but he knew that he didn't want to see Seifer hurt. And he would rather face Ultimecia again without backup or Lionhart than stand around and let other's opinions shove Seifer off the edge alone.

Quickly, Squall reviewed his options one more time before making his decision: Squall was going to just have to stop him himself. Squall didn't think he would have enough time to get Matron's help, and he didn't think that adding insult to injury and calling in their mother figure would help Seifer's obviously waning self-esteem.

Decision made, Squall hightailed it out of the Quad; breath steaming the air and making a trail behind him as he panted with exertion and adrenalin.

A few short minutes later found Squall panting roughly in front of the Training Center's "Secret Place" that really wasn't so secret. Squall felt that Seifer would be here, would do that here, because of all the memories attached to the place.

This was where Squall and Seifer had had their firsts in everything; kissing, making out, cuddling, even non-relationship things like their first time at casing cure spells and even applying antidotes. Even sneaking out past curfew.

Squall knew that if he was the one depressed, he would go there to commit suicide.

Hearing a calming sigh from the other side of the door, Squall knew he had been right. It was Seifer's voice. Squall instinctively knew that he hadn't much time left and quickly but quietly opened the door. He figured that he'd at least have enough time to resurrect Seifer if he had managed to do it somehow.

What he saw shocked him beyond words, or even a gasp. Seifer was going to decapitate himself! One of the few ways to be sure someone with magic, or para-magic if one was a SeeD and had at least one GF, could not resurrect the dead.

'NO!'

Without really thinking of what he was doing, but later thankful for having brought Lionhart with him when he was going for his walk, he unsheathed his gun blade and parried Seifer's intended slice at his own neck.

"Leonhart?"

A confused Seifer found himself on the floor with a very angry brunette straddling his waist. When he looked up into said brunette's face, he noticed with amazement that Squall had tears running down his face and that his face was scrunched into an anguished grimace.

"Don't you EVER do that again, Seifer!" Squall choked out between small sobs and his voice cracked as he shrieked, "NEVER!"

Seifer gazed up at Squall in a mix of wonder and bewilderment. On one had, Squall had just stopped him from killing himself and had broken his ice shield on his heart to shriek at him, and on the other hand, Squall was sobbing still and looked like he would break.

"Why…?"

It was a testament to their bond that Squall knew that he was asking him why he had stopped him, and not why he had told him to not do it again. Squall gained a better grip on Seifer's shirt and gently smacked his forehead down onto Seifer's chest to hide his face.

"Because I love you!" Seifer could just make out the muffled confession because he had whispered it hoarsely, but with passion.

Not expecting that at all, Seifer could only stare in shock at the back of Squall's head. Could it be true? Could Squall really…

Seifer grabbed Squall's arms and pulled him up so that he could look him in the eyes. Squall's eyes always told the truth.

"But you agreed with Zell and said I had betrayed you!"

"I didn't agree with Zell. I said you betrayed us because I knew you could have stopped Ultimecia and didn't. I was hurt that you hadn't tried and had just let your pride go." Squall quietly argued, looking at Seifer's eyes. He knew that Seifer's eyes were the windows to his mind.

"I let her because…Because she had promised that she could make you fall for me. You're my romantic dream, Squall."

Seifer was still stunned from what Squall had said, but he could still see that little flash of recognition at his mention of the dream as well as more tears flooding his eyes. Only this time, the smile on Squall's face meant that they were happy tears from Seifer's confession.

Squall flung his arms around Seifer's neck and hugged him with all the strength he could muster. Not that Seifer was complaining. No, he had wrapped his own arms around Squall's waist and held him there, breathing in his scent.

Perhaps…Perhaps just having Squall care was enough for him. Even if the rest of Garden hated Seifer, he knew he was safe there because of Squall.

)(

Christmas Day saw another of Selphie's amazing parties.

The Ballroom was decorated with all the Christmassy things: Tinsel strung up on the walls, a giant Christmas tree in the center with four smaller trees in the four corners of the room, holly and mistletoe strung up everywhere, a table with a Rudolph tablecloth and covered with different types of food and dessert, and of course Cid dressed as Santa.

Squall showed up and everyone went quiet. Squall hated parties and socializing, so it was extremely unexpected that he would show up. Squall was actually there because Seifer had wanted to go.

Squall had dressed in a pair of black leather slacks and a red long sleeves shirt with green Christmas trees on it. It had been a gag gift the year before, from Seifer. He still had his Griever pendant on, but he also had a small green and red pendant that Selphie had given him to "spice up" his outfit.

Squall rolled his eyes at their reaction to his appearance, and waited near the door for Seifer. Squall had promised to be there for him as emotional support.

Not two minutes later, after the initial surprise of his own appearance had warn off some, Seifer came in strutting. He was wearing his usual silver coat over a green shirt and black pants. Upon seeing Squall waiting for him, he ignored the gasps and whispers and walked up to him.

"Having fun?" Seifer greeted.

Squall shook his head, "Just got here myself."

"Ah. Glad I wasn't keeping you waiting then."

"Nope."

Seifer smiled and looked Squall over, raising an eyebrow when he noticed the shirt and extra pendant.

"You do realize that shirt was a gag gift, right?"

"Maybe."

"And what's with the cheesy pendant? One wasn't enough for ya this year?" Seifer smirked when Squall rolled his eyes but otherwise didn't reply.

Squall's mind had easily been taken off of the party and had relaxed against a nearby wall, when a shrill voice cut through the happy fog.

"What's he doing here, Squall!"

It was Rinoa, and she was wearing a red dress with green trim and pointing rudely at Seifer.

Squall looked at Seifer, then looked back to Rinoa and shrugged. "What are you doing here?"

"But Seifer's not welcome!"

"But Edea is?"

"Of course, Squall. Why wouldn't she be?"

"Then why isn't he? He was just as controlled as Matron was. And if you can't handle that, and just want to keep using him as a scapegoat, then leave. Just leave. I can't handle anymore uncalled for hatred, Rinoa." Squall actually looked tired and drained, and all he really wanted now was to just go to bed with Seifer.

"But Squall…"

"No, Rinoa. Squall's right. In fact, everyone can leave who still hates Seifer for something he didn't want to do." Selphie piped in, loud enough for the whole Ballroom to hear. She had begun hating the hate too. As ridiculous as that sounded.

Everyone shared looks with those close to them, and only two people left the room: Quistis, and some random person that Squall didn't know.

Selphie then turned back to Rinoa and chirped, "Looks like you're out numbered, Rin. Maybe you should go to your room and cool down for a bit? If you still can't handle it tomorrow, then maybe you can go move back in with your father in Galbadia?"

Rinoa gave one last glance at Squall, but he shook his head and sighed, "I told you to shut up about it Rinoa. If you had, you wouldn't be kicked out."

Rinoa stomped her heel down in a fit, turned away and stalked out of the Ballroom.

Seifer, who had been quiet the whole time, snickered and said, "And she had said I wasn't welcome."

Squall graced everyone with one of his small but true smiles and replied in an ironic twist, "Yep. She always ruins the parties."

Seifer, and everyone else, laughed. That is, until Selphie's face lit up and she squealed, "Mistletoe!" causing both guys to look up and see a sprig of mistletoe above Seifer's head.

"Well, at least we know you wont have competition for it, Squall."

"Yeah? Well, maybe I like that."

Squall leaned over, closed his eyes and kissed Seifer on the lips, causing girls in the room to gasp and guys to catcall and wolf whistle.

He wouldn't let Seifer get depressed again. Not after seeing him like this, happy again.

Against Seifer's lips and with eyes still closed, Squall whispered, "I'll make sure of it."