AN: Don't shoot me. . .but any whoo this is one of the funner parts of the story. I hope you enjoy.

Squall smirked, "Well then I am in your debt." He nodded his head at Celeste. "As for Gilbert what do you intend for him to do? I can offer him a place among the SeeD's if that is acceptable, that will give him employment and a place to stay….besides one of my friends has already taken a liking to him, as I'm sure you know…" The fact that Celeste asked for Quistis to come finally clicked in his head, "So thats why you said bring Quistis….makes a ton of sense now, but then again what is Gilbert finding up there?" He was puzzled as to what was going on, and at this point Zell was punching air again just being distant, and letting Squall handle the angelic thing.

Celeste frowned "He found one of his friend's final words to him. They didn't die peacefully like he thought." She sighed "Quistis and his relationship is my gift to him, after all all that has happened to him. It's a gift to Quistis too, she needed a guy like him"

Squall kept his cold stare as he listened to this story, "Ouch, sucks to hear that all his friends are dead, well he is with Quistis...she won't let him feel bad for long. I thank for you bringing him here though, she had this thing for me and it was getting kind of weird." He rolled his eyes and started to look around the tower, "Is there anything else I need to know about Gilgamesh before I confront him?" He turned to face Celeste waiting for an answer.

Celeste nodded "I know. They are going to be a great couple" Celeste gestured for the two to follow her.

Quistis smiled, she hadn't seen Gilbert this happy before and it in turn made her feel good. She chuckled and stated, "Well it sounds like working under Squall. Yes he's a cold military badass, but he cares about the Garden and is well respected among the students, staff, and SeeD officials. He may not like to show it but beyond that tough exterior lies the heart of an angel. She smiled again then suddenly she saw Gilbert's face drop as he slowly lifted a small slip of paper. "No..." she whispered, catching the vibe that something bad had happened. Not caring what had happened she embraced him in an attempt to comfort him in his time of need.

Gilbert tucked his nose against her neck, crying softly. "The were killed in the war. . .even with their dying breath they wished me luck in life" He wrapped his arms around Quistis and held her close.

"Now now Gilbert its going to be fine, you're with friends here...take it easy…they may be gone but know you're here for a reason think of it that way." She held him closer, "You have people you can trust, and you have me. Please don't cry…" She held him just as tight as he held her.

Gilbert smiled "I know. It's just I-" He choked a bit on his words "I never thought, that they would die like that." He shifted his weight to pull Quistis off her feet, and completely into his arms. "I never thought I'd be saying this, I miss Fer- no Lief, My twin brother" He looked her in the eyes "We looked the same, but we were polar opposites"

Quistis stroked his back softly, "You'll be fine, just let it out." She just sat there holding him and listening to his stories and doing her best to comfort him...even if her feet couldn't touch the ground.

Shrugging his shoulders squall followed Celeste, "I don't know about great, but they'll suffice." Zell followed closely behind Squall not caring too much for this whole ordeal but he sure was interested in where they were being taken.

Celeste laughed "Just give it a few months. I know for I have seen. I have foreseen some interesting things for you two as well." She smiled wide tilting her head to the side. "And when you find out the wonderful news make sure you call your Father, He'll be overjoyed. Also Zell, Be a good lad, and settle your self a bit." She paused in front the central cylinder of the Tower "Ah this thing's fun" She stepped into in and called "Up!" And vanished from sight.

Squall scoffed, "Time goddess...I got to remember that." He rolled his eyes at the vague information that he just received, but he had a good idea what was coming when she stated that he should call his father….after all the guy pesters him constantly about becoming a grandad.

Zell threw his arms behind his head and murmured something under his breath, "I ain't gonna settle down for no one. Life's fun on the fast track."

Squall noticed her say up as she got in the cylinder and followed simple instructions, it wasn't that bad...a little unnerving but not bad.

Zell on the other hand got in the cylinder slowly and cautiously and flipped the fuck out when he said up. He crawled out the other side like he had just had a heart attack.

Celeste laughed at Zell, it was a joyful laugh rather than one of mocking. "I wanted you two to see this" she was still standing in the cylinder, and pointing up at the ceiling. "I want you to guess which one of these guys is Gilbert's patron, Remember anything he has said about himself. It'll help you understand him a bit more"

Zell glared at Celeste…"You planned this…" then he looked up and said "Whoa…" as he looked at the huge mural above his head.

Squall was too busy gawking at the mural, and trying to answer Celestes question to care about what Zell was getting into to. He saw things from all paths of life but there was something that stood out. "Gilbert is an andrail, and he is a ranger who can use a bow but prefers his claws. The fact that he uses a bow points to that person there.." he points to a figure leaning up against a dire white tiger. "and the fact that he is an andrail also gives me the impression that I'm correct in assuming so."

Celeste laughed even harder at Zell "I knew you'd say that. but no. Gilbert is going to come here and I thought we could meet him here before too much longer" She looked to the man Squall had pointed out "You are correct, that would be Ardane, the god of Rangers, he is Also an Andreil, The tiger behind him is his companion, like Grisil is to Gilbert. Every ranger has at least one companion." She smiled and bowed her head to the mural.

Squall sighed, "That was child's play, not much of a challenge with guessing something so obvious." He crossed his arms and looked up at Ardane. "It's weird how you all go by classes whereas we just have different units now-a-days. It's something I want to look into to see if it can benefit the Garden in anyway."

Zell did nothing but glare as he knew she was right and she kept laughing at him. He just laid there on the ground glaring.

"I didn't say it would be hard. I wanted to see if you remembered key details." Celeste chuckled softly "Yes, but all the classes have their strengths and weaknesses. I myself was trained as a Paladin, a knight blessed by the light, and sworn to help those in need before those with money or power." she smiled "you should have Gilbert teach some once he settles down more, He knows things that people have forgotten"

Squall laughed slightly, "Look I run a military base slash school on a daily basis. I remember which student threw a hotdog at lunch a week ago. Don't test my skills I'll just show you how awesome I can be." He faced Celeste, "And as for Gilbert teaching in the garden he will have to first achieve a high enough rank, then I will trust him with some students."

Celeste smiled and seemingly as if thinking out loud she said "Gilbert, that was quicker that to be expected of you. . ." She chuckled and looked at Squall "I don't doubt your skills at all, but there are things Gilbert knows that you don't. He can teach you to tame the monsters in the world, without that you may not be able to stop Gilgamesh."

Gilbert sat Quistis down on her feet, and took a shaky breath. "I'm okay, for now. It's just this last line bothers me a lot too. 'They have come on the attack again, this time they have brought something they created, they call it Sorc' It cuts off there. . ." He showed the line to her. 'Please don't see through my mask, I want to cry but, this time in private. . .besides They wouldn't have wanted me to shut down like this so I won't do it.'

As she was put back on the ground she smiled up at Gilbert, "Glad you're feeling better! Now keep it up, I don't enjoy other people sadness, especially the ones I care about." Looking at the last line of the paper she scoffed, "Looks like they may be talking about a Sorceress, sorc is the first 4 letters of sorceress so that would be my guess." *And if thats the case….then we know where the sorceress' came from!* She noticed that Gilbert was still hurting, but she gave him the space he needed, after all it has to be horrible knowing that all of your friends have died in a war so long ago...

Gilbert nodded "it would be my guess as well, but seeing the Messenger is broken, we'll never know, what else the message said." He sighed "I want to grab a few things I left behind last time." He smiled as if he hadn't been gone two thousand years. "Namely my journals, I write quite a bit. And have kept a journal for the last few years." He walked over to a bookcase and picked up a stack of decently sized books, each one with elegant scrolling handwriting on the spines. "They look rather well intact. . . Wow. I am surprised. . ." he chuckled "If you want, I guess I can let you read some of them, so you can see the world I came from through my eyes"

Quistis nodded her head at Gilbert, "Guess not, well maybe someone can fix it and it will finish its message? Or maybe its just been too long and its forgot its orders." Shrugging her shoulders she took a step back and allowed Gilbert free roam of the room to get what he wanted to get before they left the tower. It didn't surprise her that Gilbert liked to write, after hearing about his past and everything it made perfect sense. "Gil, you know I would love to know about the past, you didn't even have to ask. Then again they are your personal journals so are you sure?" She wanted to make sure that he was ok with this, before she delved into his personal space.

Gilbert nodded "I'm not proud of parts of my past, but I trust you" He smiled at her "Just promise me that some of the earlier ones won't change your opinion of me. Those ones are from when I was really lost in the world."

Quistis laughed, "Everyone has regrets, and I respect that. If there is anything you don't want me reading, I'm fine with it. Either way it will not change my opinion of you, because the Gilbert I'm looking at is the Gilbert that I know..." *...and love.* She blushed lightly at that thought and looked away. "So where do you think you will go now? After all you still have a home back at Balamb Garden with the rest of us." She shuffled her feet for a moment and tried to avoid eye contact till she knew that her blush was gone.

Gilbert closed his eyes and thought for a moment "I will stay in the Garden, the world is much too different for me to be alone." He gave a soft sigh "There is one thing about my past that I want you to know, I have only told three people this, one of them being Squall. I feel it's your right to know. I was a slave for most of my life, the last three years were the first time I have been free since I can remember. . .I was feared, and hated for my appearance, and so people wouldn't talk to me. . .it makes some things really confusing to me. . . There is something I want to tell you but I don't know how." He sighed again 'How do I say I love you? . . .do you just say it?' He took a breath and slipped his journals into his backpack, and walked up to Quistis, he slipped his arms around her waist. 'I'll just do as Ferrick would. . . be blunt, but I will not be obnoxious' He leaned his head down to whisper in her ear "You have touched my heart in a way no one else has, I have never said this to anyone before you. . ." he took a quiet breath and continued "I love you, Quistis."

Quistis leaned against a wall and smiled, "I'm glad that you will be sticking around, I'll help you adjust to these times if you don't mind." She heard the whole spheal about the being a slave and she stood there covering her mouth as she was surprised. "I"m sorry Gil...I didn't know…." She looked towards the floor and sighed. Suddenly she heard him say that he had something to tell her, and he slowly wrapped his arms around her. In the complete embrace the whisper that glided over her ear only made a smile appear across her face. *Oh...my….god….he...said...it….* Her grip on him tightened and she pulled him in closer. Then after a few moments she loosened the grip and looked up at him, not saying a word but planting a kiss on his lips as if to say the same thing to him.

Gilbert relaxed into the kiss, he gently tighten his embrace to pull Quistis flush against his chest. After a moment he broke the kiss, his breath coming in soft pants "I take it you feel the same" he said softly. Her arms were gentle on his neck. 'I like this feeling, it's so warm. I just wish I knew what to do next. . .' He closed his eyes, partially wishing that Quistis would at least lead him into what he was supposed to do next, the other part wanted to just remain in this position for a few more minutes.

Hearing Celeste talk about Gilbert Squall raised his brow, "Gilbert did something out of character I assume?" *I'll bet its got to do with Quistis...wonder if I can win a bet against Zell doing this...it just might be worth it…* After that thought, Squall glared at Celeste, "Whether I need help or not shall be up to the strength of my enemy, and even then I have friends to have my back. My chances of failure are miniscule." Overconfident as always, squall smirked, "Do me a favor and stop doubting me already."

Celeste smiled "Yeah, and if you want to make that bet. . .I'd do it before Gilbert and Quistis get here" She closes her eyes "This is going to be interesting. Zell what do you think of what is going on?"

Squall glared at Celeste, "Alright woman I know you're the Goddess of time and all that jazz, but stop reading my damned mind already, its getting annoying as hell." He sighed and looked to Zell, "Hey, I got ten Gil down that Gilbert just made out with Quistis up there, you in?"

Zell scoffed, "Pfft, there ain't no way those two are that intimate yet! You're on!" He reached into his pocket and grabbed ten coins and threw them out on the ground in front of them. he then looked to Celeste, "Well who's right?" That was the first thing that he said to Celeste that he wasn't forced to say.

Celeste smiled "you'll see when they get here. Trust me, it'll be a sight to remember"

Squall smirked, "We shall see then won't we." He crossed his arms and leaned against the nearest thing he could lean on.

Quistis pulled away slowly and instead of saying a word she just nodded in response. She couldn't find the words to say, they all just escaped her. She was still awestruck that he had actually said that, and she was now running off of her instinct. She ran her hands slowly down his back for a moment and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pulled him close and started to blush. *Alright lets see if he got the hint…*

Gilbert opened his eyes as he felt Quistis pull away. He looked confused for a moment, but when she ran her hands down his shoulders, and then down his back, he felt his breath hitch in his throat. The touch felt like it was electric across his skin. When her hands rested on his waist, he felt a strange urge in his gut. This feeling caused him to blush, it was unlike anything he'd felt before. 'What is this feeling? . . .Didn't Ferrick speak of a feeling that comes from your gut. . .just behind the navel. . . . .' He pulled her against him again "Quistis, I feel weird. . .I don't understand this feeling. . ." Gilbert sounded both confused and unsure, but tinged with slight pleasure. "It . . ." He rested his chin on her shoulder, his breathing a bit erratic. 'Is this what they call desire? . . .Oh by the Dragons. . .What do I do?'

With her breathing growing heavy and her body starting to go numb, she knew what was happening. She wanted Gilbert, and hell if he didn't want it too. She could see it in his eyes and through the fire red blush on his cheeks. No matter how much she wanted it, she didn't want to do it here...so in a split second decision she shied away and pushed Gilbert back a little bit. "I'm sorry…" she said in a soft tone… "Not here…" She started towards the door, "Maybe we should rejoin the others." Her mind was frazzled, and she was having a hard time thinking straight. Her desire for Gilbert was rising by the second, but somehow she suppressed it and kept moving on with her life. When they returned to the Garden she may try it again though, and she hoped that Gilbert would still feel the same way when they got back as he appeared to now.

Gilbert nodded "okay" he sounded slightly relieved but at the same time his heart was racing, and his breath was slowly returning to normal. "Can I show you one thing first?" he shook himself slightly "I'm sorry too. . ." He stepped up to her, but walked a step behind her, like he would have to the Master. "I don't know what came over me."

Quistis smiled and said, "Of course you can." She wanted to make it up to him for denying his love at first here, so she was willing to look at whatever he was about to show her. "Ah don't worry about it Gilbert, it happens to the best of us...just not here is all." She smiled and waited for him to do something.

Gilbert smiled and took her hand, ignoring the burning need of his body. He lead her back to the cylinder this time he stood still and looked at Quistis "Stay close to me". He looked to her and smiled he hugged her close "Top!" and the platform rushed up, yet felt like it was not moving.

Quistis had not been surprised to see his hand held out for her to grasp again, and she readily grabbed it without a second thought. *I can't believe that I'm actually falling for him...I just can't explain this feeling I have inside.* When they had finally got to the cylinder she nodded in response to his statement, and held him close as they jumped upwards again.

"And they'll be here in a few seconds" Celeste smirks.

Squall tapped his foot impatiently, "Ya know it would be nice if they would hurry up….besides I would like to know if I got my money or not…" He glanced at Zell and gave him a glare that said, 'Get ready to pay up.'

Celeste smiled as Gilbert and Quistis appeared. She saw the blush that was still across Gilbert's face and the way he was standing. "What did I tell you, I think Squall won that one" Gilbert looked confused and blushed again.

"what?" Gilbert looked between the three. "what?" he looked utterly confused.

A grin appeared on Squalls face and he nodded on the ground, "Pick it up loser and place it in my hand…" He held his hand outstretched and ready to receive his pay.

Zell boiled over and started punching the air out of anger, "Damn you!" he started to pick up coins and then when he had finished he placed them in squall's hand...Then he walked away mumbling.

Sliding the coins out in the palm of his hand, Squall counted up his share and shoved them into his coin pouch. Looking towards Gilbert he smiled, "I won a bet about you and Quistis, and it seems that I have won...thanks for the gil Gilbert." He smirked and leaned back against the wall.

Quistis just shook her head, "Don't mind them they get like this a lot….and I mean a lot…"

Gilbert blinked and looked at Quistis "Okay" He looked up at the ceiling and bowed his head, his eyes immediately landed on Ardane "This mural above us, shows the different Gods that each particular class worshiped." He pointed to the Ranger God "That is Ardane, My Patron God, and the first Andreil . . ." 'I didn't tell her! . . .um. She does need to know. . .' His eyes fell on Squall as he said the word 'Andreil'. "You see I along with others owe part of our being to him, I am also an Andreil. . ." He looked at Quistis ignoring the others "Being an Andreil means that I am a part of nature in a very, very special way. I have the natural and innate ability to shift into the form of a Black Panther." He smiled wide "I chased Siefer down in that form. Almost had him too . . ."

Squall smirked, "And now the truth comes out to all of us rather than just me." He closed his eyes and tilted his head downwards. "So Quistis, what do you make of it? That black panther you saw in Deling, that was Gilbert."

Zell spontaneously burst out, "SAY WHAT?! He can change his form!?" He looked at Gilbert in confusion… "So that explains why Squall was so intent on chasing after Seifer back in Deling...he wasn't chasing Seifer, rather he was chasing you!"

Quistis was taken aback from the entire situation, and her memory flashed back to that moment where she saw the panther jumping from rooftop to rooftop with Squall chasing it down. "You can change into a panther? Really?" She was taken aback by the information she had just received. *I've got to be sure that was what I had saw back then...so I wonder…* "Can you show me what you mean?" She waited for a response from Gilbert.

Gilbert nodded "Don't blink". He exhaled his breath and stepped away from Quistis as he did his form became that of a large Black Panther. When he had said don't blink he meant you'd miss the entire transition from man to beast. He turned and looked at Quistis, a look of 'Please don't hate me'.

Quistis was taken aback she had taken a couple steps backwards with her hand over her mouth as if to block her gaping mouth. She hadn't expected such a dramatic transformation in such a small amount of time. It was true...she just saw it, he had transformed right in front of her eyes. After a few moments of her amazement she spoke out in a half trembling voice, "G..Gilbert?" She held out her hand to touch the figure in front of her. When she got near it and placed her hand on its back, she could could tell it was him...something just told her that he was just the same… Even if he had looked different on the outside.

Squall opened one eye and closed it right back smirking, "You're not just seeing things Quistis, thats Gilbert alright, and hell if it didn't surprise me when he did it right in front of me in Deling." he scoffed and returned back to his solace.

This had been the first time that Zell had seen the transformation first hand and he was left speechless, even falling flat on his ass from amazement….

Celeste smiled "You can change back, or I can speak for you" Gilbert stared at her "okay I won't" Gilbert looked at Quistis and let out a deep rumbling purr. He blinked and shifted back as quickly as he had before. "Quistis . . ." He paused. He waited for her to speak.

The others in the room were either not caring or too shocked to say anything, as Quistis sighed and returned her hand to her side, *Well this is new…* She shook her head, "I'm sorry I'm just not quite used to things like that yet...just give me some time...and I'm sorry about my reaction… I've just never experienced anything like this before…." Her voice trailed off and she turned away from Gilbert, trying to collect her thoughts.

Gilbert looked to the side looking down. "I'm sorry. I was going to tell you. . .It's one of the things. . ." he sighed softly before continuing in a hushed tone "that would have gotten me killed. . ." Celeste stepped over to Quistis. "Can I speak with you, Deary?" she put her hand on Quistis' shoulder.

Quistis got a confused look on her face, "Get you killed?" Before she could act on that thought Celeste had stepped in and asked if she could talk with her. *So wait...I'm learning all of this about Gilbert now...what is about to happen…* She had started to become suspicious of what was going on around her no matter what may have actually been going on. She eyed Celeste, "Sure I'll go with you." She hoped to hopefully understand more about what was going on, and Celeste just may have been the information bank she needed to see.

Celeste smiled, and took her hand away. There was an eerie silence. "Gilbert is a nervous man. . .He is having troubles overcoming the differences in the social norms." She smiled softly again "Don't scare him too much. He'll reveal a lot more quicker if you listen and let him deal with his devils as he comes to them." Celeste pulled an item from her pocket, a journal, she handed it to Quistis. "If you have any questions, or would like me to know something, write in that journal, and I will see it. It is my gift to you. As is Gilbert" She walked away, and the eerie silence ended.

Gilbert looked at Quistis "People hunted Andreils . . .mostly because they also feared us..."

Quistis shuffled her feet for a moment...she could tell that Gilbert was at least socially awkward but after finding out more about him. "I'm sorry, It's just that being able to transform like that is startling for me...I'm just not used to it yet." She looked at the journal curiously, "So then you can see this too I assume?" She grabbed the journal, quite excited to be able to write in it and receive responses on her observations. "Thank you…" she said bluntly...and when she looked back to Gilbert she smiled, "Andreil or not, you're still the same to me…" She grasped the book in her hand and slid it into her pouch at her waist. She hugged him, "I'm sorry that I frightened you…."

Gilbert returned her hug, he closed his eyes. He couldn't find the words to express how grateful he was. He settled for nuzzling her neck and settling into the embrace more.

Celeste had walked back over to Squall and Zell "Give him time, and it will reward you in the end"

Squall scoffed, "Whatever…"

Zell smiled at the sight, "I guess it will work….I still don't know too much about the guy...still…" he scratched his head as he started to think. "I can accept him around at least for now…"

Meanwhile Quistis was getting quite comfortable in his embrace and found herself not wanting to leave it.

Squall finally spoke up after a few moments and said, "Look, if were done here then we should be getting back to Deling and finishing what we started…" he pushed himself off of the wall and started walking towards the cylinder.

Celeste nodded "I'll get Selver working on more Gear Keys, And maps of the entrances to the tower" She smiled "I'll contact you the same way" She vanished into thin air.

Squall smirked, "you do that and I'll be paying you all a visit again when my job in Deling is finished." he looked over as Celeste disappeared and smirked, "Down.." and he disappeared.

Zell slowly followed after him…."I swear if this thing kills me…" He closed his eyes and said in a nervous voice, "down?" And he disappeared.

Gilbert smiled and shifted so that he could take Quistis' hand and still keep her close. 'watching others has benefits. . .' He looked to the others "I'm gonna guess she didn't tell them how to work the staircase"

With them alone now Quistis looked at gilbert and laughed, "Let me guess they both did it wrong?" as she took his hand and wondered where the two ended up at...