The alarm clock buzzed.

One minute…

Two minutes…

Five minutes…

Squall finally stirred before realizing he couldn't budge. The blonde's arm was curled snugly around the younger man's waist, holding him from behind, cuddling him close against his broad, warm chest.

The brunet tried to squirm free, managing to almost reach the alarm clock when Seifer pulled him closer, stirring slightly in his sleep, shifting so that he was now resting halfway atop the brunet's figure, his face buried in the crook Squall's shoulder.

"Are you a dumbass even in your sleep?!" Squall grumbled, the buzzing annoying him so early in the morning.

Seifer chuckled before bursting into amused laughter, releasing the brunet and leaning over him to shut the alarm off himself.

"You really are a work of art. Are you usually this cheerful every morning?" Seifer grinned, eyeing the brunet with a smug twinkle in his jade eyes.

"You really are a work of art yourself. The kind of art that should be stuffed under the bed to be forgotten about, hopefully collecting dust and keeping the bugs from invading the room by providing them shelter." Squall countered in annoyance.

He was about to get off the bed, his feet touching the cool, tiled ground when Seifer's arm was once again around his waist, yanking him back onto the bed. Before the brunet could start his tirade of insults, the blonde's lips were stealing his breath away in a passionate kiss.

"Good morning, sugah." Seifer crooned against Squall's lips as he pulled away.

Squall moaned softly, leaning in for another kiss but Seifer's playful slap to his backside changed his mind. "Go wake Mary up for school already, she's going to be late all because you're greedy for more morning kisses."

"You damn, obstinate, annoying, rude, crazy, unbelievable…"

Seifer's laughter continued to sound even as he walked into the toilet and softly shut the door behind him, leaving the vexed brunet to curse the walls instead.

Squall groaned and got up, pulling on a pair of shorts before starting his daily routine of waking his daughter up and getting her ready for school.

In the bathroom, Seifer gazed at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were cold, having lost all the humor and merriment that had lingered there. He reached over to trace his reflection, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the mirror, warming it with his touch as he studied the features of his face.

'A secret agent… I was a secret agent… How did that work out for me? Did I kill anyone? What was my job all about? Was I a spy?'

Seifer's lips were a thin line as he pondered deeply the matters of his past. He still didn't know much. Even knowing he was a secret agent wasn't bringing him as close to uncovering his past as he hoped. He knew Trepe was probably his superior, however, he had no idea how to find her; where to find her.

'Laguna!'

The blonde's eyes lit up with the thought of that man's name as he ran the possibilities through his head.

'I just need to find him and tell him what I discovered… Then force him to tell me what he knows about me and if he too is working for Trepe. Then…'

'… Then what?'

Seifer let his hand drop back to his side as he considered that nagging question.

'Then…what…? What will knowing about my past help now… I have the chance to start a new life… Here… with Squall and lil Mary… Will knowing the truth about my past solve anything?'

Seifer sighed and turned the faucet, splashing cold water onto his face as his mind continued to race with his thoughts and feelings. The blonde glared at the water flowing, his heart beating heavily in his chest. His eyes were sparkling with a sheen of despair as he went over his options in his head. He felt lost and confused.

"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE! OPEN THE DOOR!" Squall impatiently pounded the door.

Seifer's lips immediately twisted into a wide grin. His eyes widened in surprise at his joyous expression. He knew what he should do now, something he should have done a long time ago. He was going to forsake his past and live with Squall… Forever.

"OPEN THE DOOR, DAMMIT!"

Squall walked into the huge office room, making his way to his personal working cubicle without paying the least attention to his surroundings.

There were the expected whispers, the snickers, the mocking whistles, but something was different about the commotion. Squall looked up as he neared his working space, his grey eyes slightly curious and confused as the empty desk next to his was no-so-empty anymore.

A group of guys flocked the desk, their voices lowering to hushed whispers as the brunet finally reached his desk, easily within earshot.

The guys parted to reveal a woman in their midst. An attractive blonde with piercing blue eyes and glasses that seemed more for fashion than any medical reasons.

"He's the guy." One of the co-workers said smugly.

"Hey, Squallie, say hi to your new neighbor." Said another.

Squall's eyes studied the woman before he turned and ignored her completely, turning on his computer and successfully annoying everyone around him, except the woman, who was smiling oddly.

"You arrogant bastard!" One guy shouted, raising his fist as he trudged towards the brunet, who was still coolly ignoring everyone.

"HEY!"

Squall looked up as the woman's curvy backside was suddenly inches from his face, her skirt barely long enough to reach the middle of her thighs as she stood straight. An annoyed look flashed in his stormy eyes before his mind registered what she was doing.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! HE'S A FREE MAN. IF HE WANTS TO SAY HI, HE CAN. IF HE DOESN'T, SO BE IT! NOW LEAVE HIM ALONE AND GO BACK TO YOUR DESKS!"

All eyes in the office were staring their way. The guy backed off before huffing and muttering a few obscenities under his voice, making his way to his own desk as he was instructed. The other guys followed suit, filing down the hall to their respective places.

The woman turned to Squall and smiled, "I'm sorry, I suppose this is all my fault."

"You can mind your own business. I can stand up for myself." Squall muttered.

"Is that your way of expressing appreciation?" The woman giggled, almost coyly.

The brunet sighed and turned to face the woman, who had walked over to sit in her own chair, leaning back to smile at him over the rim of her glasses.

"As much as it wasn't necessary…. Umm... Thank you."

The blonde chuckled under her breath and leaned towards Squall, "I'm Quistis Trepe. I'm new in Balamb."

The brunet frowned slightly, his eyes studying the woman, "Do you own a company or something of the sort?"

Quistis's brows arched in perfect half circles, "Not at all, why do you ask?"

Squall shrugged, "Well… just heard your family name before… thought you were somehow related."

Blue eyes clouded, seemingly with amusement, "Is that so? May I ask where you heard it before?"

Squall shrugged again and turned to type his password into the computer system, "My friend was searching for a company, and he seemed certain it existed. It was called Kinneas and Trepe. But since you don't have an idea, it's probably just a coincidence."

Quistis smiled and nodded, "I suppose it is a coincidence. Although, I have to admit, I don't believe in coincidence. Do you?"

Squall's eyes snapped to the blonde's face, but she had already turned to her own work, a lingering smile on her lips. Something about her was making him uneasy, but he couldn't place his finger on what it was.

"Oh, I heard you have a daughter." Quistis continued, her eyes scanning a file on her desk.

"Yes…"

"You leave her home alone?"

"Not really… it's only a few hours… and as of late, a friend is living in with us."

"The same friend who asked about the company?"

Squall smiled unconsciously, "Yea."

Quistis stole a glance at the brunet through the edge of her eye before feigning deep interest in her work, "Do you usually invite strays into your house to stay?"

Squall's eyes narrowed, "How do you know about him?"

"Everybody knows about everybody else these days, cutie. Don't look so angry, it doesn't suit you." Quisits smiled almost tenderly as her eyes stole a glance at the disgruntled brunet. It sure was easy to get under his skin.

The brunet shrugged and went back to clicking idly on his keyboard, his thoughts wandering to Seifer. He didn't think so many knew, and he definitely didn't think the newbie to town knew. A frown adorned his handsome face, "How long have you been in Balamb?"

Quistis seemed to consider the question before answering, "Well, a week or two."

Squall nodded although he seemed fairly uninterested in the answer to his own question. The woman's voice was melodious, as though she was singing with every word she uttered. He didn't know why she would consider working in such an office as this.

"You know, I'm single."

Squall's brow quirked in response to that statement.

Quistis giggled, "I'm teasing."

Squall's frown deepened, "From your statement, I assume you know much about my marital status?"

Quistis feigned innocence, "Oh? Why would I know that? Do I look like CIA to you?"

Squall's forehead smoothened as he calmed down, "Not really."

"I'm a harmless thing." The woman chuckled and winked at Squall before getting up, "Need to make a call. Chat with you later, cutie."

Squall's cellphone vibrated in his pocket. A funny thought crossed his mind, that Quistis was calling him from the telephone booth downstairs, but the thought seemed ridiculous. The woman couldn't have his number. However, the curious look was wiped off his face as his eyes scanned the number on the phone's screen.

"Hello?" The brunet's voice seemed panicked, yet the voice on the other end was shrouded in hysterics.

The phone fell from the brunet's hand as he jumped off his chair and frantically searched for his car keys. All eyes were on his anguished face as he raced out of the room.

Seifer paid the cleric and grinned as he carried the groceries in one hand, whistling a merry tune to himself. His sneakers made a squishing sound as he walked in rhythm to the tune, his eyes sparkling. Recipes ran through his head as he imagined a few dishes he knew how to brew up.

The sun was high in the sky as he made his way down the street. A look at his watch confirmed that lil Mary would be home soon, if not home already. Birds sang in the sky, communicating in their jubilant language as Seifer continued to head towards home.

The blonde had made up his mind. He was going to pursue his past no more. He knew he had been living in the shadows; a dark, dreary life. God, perhaps, has now granted him a second chance at life, a chance to create a new life, new memories.

Those were the thoughts flooding his head as he treaded along the sidewalk to where Squall's house stood. Those were the thoughts that lingered on as the last turn towards home was made. Those were the thoughts that disappeared at the sound of an explosion. Those were the thoughts that turned to ashes at the sight of Squall's house burning to the ground.

Squall almost crashed into the school bus parked about a meter ahead of his house. The children inside the bus were crying and weeping, some screaming in fear, other's shouting in awe. The brunet's heart sank at the sight of his house being eaten up by hungry flames. His life's work all disappearing in mere seconds as the clock continued to tick and the flames continued to rage.

The sirens were just beginning to sound in the distance and Squall was praying they would be able to salvage some of the things in the house as he opened his car door and stumbled out. The blonde was covered with soot as he leaned against the gate, not bothering that the heat was scalding his skin and making it hard to breathe.

"Seifer?" Squall rushed over to the older man's side. The blonde looked anguished. His eyes were glazed with a sheen of unshed tears as he stood there motionless, not even acknowledging the brunet.

"What's wrong? You're safe…Everyone's okay…" The brunet pressed, genuinely worried as he attempted to comfort the blonde.

Deep jade eyes slowly slipped to meet Squall's stormy gaze, "I… I tried… I … I …"

"Wha? You're not making any sense…" Squall's heart pitched, beginning to race and drum in his ears. Something wasn't right about the scene and his instincts were screaming. He felt a weight suddenly drop on his shoulders as he turned to the school bus.

"…Marlene?" Squall called, pushing away from the blonde as he frantically searched the children's faces for any sign of his daughter. The driver of the bus was standing at the far end of the pavement, having an animated and seemingly distressed conversation on the phone.

"Mary??" Squall called, louder now as he began to walk towards the bus, a soft cry escaping his lips as he looked for his daughter in the throng of children peering out the window and gathered by the doors of the bus.

Seifer covered his face with his hands as Squall called out for his daughter again and again, reality sinking in as every search turned up empty, every call unanswered. The brunet grabbed a young boy by the arm, "Where's my daughter?! Where's my little Marlene?! Tell me!"

But no one answered.

"Tell me!!! Where is Marlene?! Maryyyy?! Where is my baby daughter?! I thought she was in here! Where is she?! Tell me now, where's my child?!"

A paramedic rushed out of the ambulance as it stopped by the house. Firemen were working to extinguish the flames, guiding Seifer away from the gate as the water splashed from the hose, as deafening as the flames themselves, drowning out the desperate cries and screams as the reality of the loss brought him close to the brink of madness.

Not very far off, a hooded man turned the corner and disappeared undetected.