Disclaimer: Don't own ff8, nuff said.

AN: One more chapter to go.

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Cooper huddled through the portal his body protesting at the change of temperature. The soft snow gave way to hard metal. He only had a single moment to register he was in a Garden. Nadia swayed forward in front of him. "Nadie!" He panicked realizing she had fainted from the effort of the spell again. His arms shot around her body clutching her to him. Feeling his illusion fade he shrugged it off as unimportant for the moment.

"Excuse me?" A female voice called out. He turned around to see the famous Quistis Trepe. She was sitting in a chair next to Zell, Selphie, Irvine, The Sorceress Rinoa, Squall, Edea Kramer, and Cid Kramer sitting at his desk.

"Cooper Dunlay, Class A Elite SeeD at your service!" He grinned turned the rest of his body to them.

"Nadia!" Irvine hissed shooting out from his seat. Cooper backed up resisting the urge to glare at anyone trying to touch his woman. This was Irvine, the man she had entrusted him to years ago. He could be nice to Irvine even if he was touching Nadia's wrist checking for a pulse.

"I have to get out of here!" Rinoa said her chair clattering to the floor. Cooper begrudgingly handed Nadia's body off to Irvine's ready arms and dashed up to meet the distressed Sorceress. He hadn't wanted to part with his safety net but Nadia would be happy when she woke up.

"Don't be ridiculous." He said grabbing her by the arm as he pulled a bracelet out of his pocket. He slipped it onto her arm watching her eyes narrow.

"How dare you." She whispered reaching to pull it off.

"Shut it." He snapped back, "I'm willing to bet Nadia's life on the fact if you are contained as a Sorceress you won't hurt her. I'm well briefed on your situation." The truth was he wasn't willing to bet Nadia's life on it, but he trusted himself. If he couldn't trust his judgment, in no way could Nadia trust him as a man. While he understood his line of reasoning, there was no way he was going to falter. He had faltered once and Nadia had slipped through his fingers. If he did it again she would never come back.

"What's going on?" Squall insisted standing up to face Cooper. He wanted to laugh, the Commander was certainly a man to reckon with, but Cooper would challenge Hyne if it meant keeping Nadia by his side. He absently thought since she had so willingly slept with him in the past if their relationship would change now. The sight of her naked still making out with himself after they had had sex was intoxicating. He felt like a caveman ready to drag his woman to bed and make babies.

He stomped down the thought and remembered he had to reply. "Nothing Odine's bangle didn't fix. What day is it?" It had occurred to him if he put two and two together properly, the spells Nadia had used were Ultimecia's. After all it was the same sorceress that had run off with her in the first place and couldn't get the damn day correct. It left him thinking Nadia was gone or dead for four months. He almost bit his lip remembering how he had lost control of himself and- no he wasn't going to remember that.

Squall was glaring at him now. His hands poised over his gunblade. Cooper was pretty sure he could cut the Commander's neck open before he was done. However, the man would still have the determination and strength to decapitate him so the point was moot. "If you mean to tell me since the last time Sam and Reggie reported in Nadia was okay? Five months."

He lost control now. "Fuck a duck that bitch can't cast a time spell for jack shit. If I could reach across the decades I'd ring her neck." Irvine stared at him wide eyed ready to interrupt, but Nadia groaned. He tossed his anger away and rushed to her side. She would be weak, perhaps even unable to speak. She had only just recovered from casting the spell before. Hell she had even just finished having sex, going through an emotional good-bye with his younger self, and had casted the spell again. He had faith in her endurance, not so much in her strength but she was amazing.

"Coop shut up please… What was supposed to happen did… I don't even know." She whined before she passed out again. He frowned concerned. She had been able to talk, but she hadn't passed out nearly as quick last time.

"What's wrong with her?" Zell pitched in his eyes awash with concern. Cooper really just wanted to drag Nadia off to a room and protect her, but he had to respect her 'family'.

"Well- do you want the long story?" He paused. He felt safe to revealing everything had happened to them. The hard look in everyone eye's annoyed him, but Edea smiled warmly at him with a nod. He had heard she had a way with people.

"Well we were going on our routine supply run. We got caught by some soldiers. Funny story for another day, Nadie didn't have her ring so she used some spell I've never seen her use before. We got sent back to the past and she was in and out of consciousness at the Trabia Garden infirmary. She was making buddy buddy with me from back then since I decided to get my ass handed to me in the Training Center." Irvine snickered at this.

He shrugged it off preparing to take a personal pleasure in freaking Nadia's family out. "And three days later my mom came in and told us to get the hell out of blasting range of the missiles; since that crackpot Ultimecia decided to send us there three days prior. We hung out, killed some stuff, Nadia fucked my brains out. I got to see me enjoy it, something you all should try sometime. Then we said good-bye and sent me to Irvine and here we are. All and all I gotta say Nadia's probably running on empty."

The reaction was in general similar. Those who didn't blush were staring at him in shock. He wanted to do a victory dance but refrained. Content with the reactions he stood up ready to make demands like he was good at when he felt his mouth hurt. He lost his balance and fell backwards. He landed with a hard thud pain lancing up his rear. Trying to focus he looked up at Squall's angry face. "You hit harder then Reggie does."

"Too loud." Nadia muttered rolling out of Irvine's grasp hitting the floor with a smack. He winced hearing her cry out. His body shivered with pain at her cry. He crawled towards her pulling her body into his lap. She was barely conscious eyes tearing up.

"Do you want anything Nadie?" He smiled running his hands through that nasty puke green hair she insisted on wearing. She shook her head falling back to sleep.

"She needs rest." Edea said. "Sounds like the trip depleted her core, guess she's not as powerful as you Rinoa." He wanted to chew them all out individually, but there was no point and Nadia would reprimand him for it. Of course she wasn't as strong as her mother. She wasn't her mother at all not to mention the fact Rinoa still ended up with the better half of the Witch Embodiment. From the things Irvine had told him about Nadia, Rinoa had gotten to keep Edea and part of Adel. He had a small inkling what Nadia was, but it was up to Rinoa to prove him right.

"If I may ask Lady Rinoa." He insisted almost kicking Irvine for trying to take Nadia from him again. The woman looked on him with distrusting eyes. Had Irvine not told them he had personally sent him to watch her? "Have you ever junctioned with the Guardian Force Shiva?" She nodded bored. She probably had many times. "How many times since you were a Sorceress."

"She hadn't, she doesn't need them." Squall glared at him, he was sure Squall wanted to hit him again. Perhaps he had talked too freely about Nadia's activities. The man was her father after all. He noticed Rinoa's guilty look.

"So you have. Did you by chance happen to junction with Shiva while partaking in sexual intercourse?" Squall stepped towards him, but Rinoa's arm shout out stopping him.

"What are you getting at?" She insisted. Nadia shifted in his arms again clearly trying to wake up but unable to. He hated making her sit through all this talking. The moment he was done with his theory he would drag her off somewhere and gut anyone that tried to speak near her.

"Well I have this theory," He said yanking off Nadia' necklace. He smiled softly seeing her blond locks flutter free and her skin go from white to a honey tan. "If you got frisky with a guardian force junctioned. Since normally sorceress doesn't go around doing that, you might have accidently merged with the magic present by yourself and Shiva.

"Now the study goes that Sorceress are barren because the magic of their core burns away the genetic information. However a complete entity such as Shiva had to part with a bit of their essence in order to be summoned. So that essence combined with your wild natural magic pepper a little Commander seed." He had to resist snickering at Squall's blush. "Could explain why Nadia looks nothing like you a bit like Squall. Not to mention she almost froze my nuts off three times. We've only had sex once in the snow. It would also explain the nut freezing when I had the Odine's bangle on her- her witch magic was not involved."

Selphie stood up knocking at chair back this time. "I can't sit here and listen to this. Irvine honey I love you and we both know you were a player, but thank Hyne you are nothing like this- this jerk!" He felt a bit bad. He had probably gone too far again. Selphie was a nice girl. She probably wasn't use to his open nature. Not that he was open to anyone other than Nadia, but he was trying for her.

"Sorry." He muttered absently stroking Nadia's sleeping face.

"Can we get her down to the infirmary?" Edea was blushing too. He should just shut up. Seems Nadia was the only one who could put up with his insanity.

"You what?" Nadia shrieked. He knew he was in for it now as her hair suddenly shot out and her face turned blue. He was promptly rocketed across the room. He would have to learn some control around her family he didn't want Nadia to kill him. He forgot how careful one had to be around a sorceress. He slid across a desk and fell over the other side as his butt ran out of surface to bump on.

"I see my baby is awake." Squall said looking absently over his shoulder at Cooper. The commander of the Garden was sitting calmly in the chair as if projectile men were commonplace. He was married to a sorceress though so maybe that was true. Annoyed he thought about kicking his foot forward, it was level with Squall's mouth. Nadia would just throw him across the room again if he broke Squall's teeth with his combat boots.

He grinned back trying to will his anger through his teeth. "Yeah, she's a hand full."

"You're not as dumb as you look then." Squall said pushing himself out of the chair. He wanted to praise Nadia. Even in her anger she had aimed to throw him away from her father. He wondered if Rinoa could brag about the same accuracy. He walked over Cooper without a second thought slipping into the room.

Cooper stayed where he was able to hear everything and waited wondering if they would let their guard down. "What's this I hear about you having sex." Squall fumed.

"I don't want to talk about it." Of course she wouldn't. She couldn't remember the first time, the second time had been rape, and the third time she had had sex with a minor, but before the first two incidents had even happened.

"You're going to talk about it. I'm done letting you go off doing whatever you feel like. You're not normal sweetie. I let you do it before because I thought it would help you. But you keep disappearing for real now and I don't like it. What if the next time you don't come back? Do you realize you mother had to pick up where you left off. She can't even conjure portals, the resistance is at a disadvantage now. They are hanging by a thread and President Garland is stepping up his enforcements."

"This isn't about me having sex is it?"

"Besides you being oh… three! Not really. You're my only kid that I'll ever have because I'm with a sorceress. You are our blessing and I won't risk you anymore." Cooper wanted to snort, but he had to stay silent, Squall had momentarily forgotten about him. Nadia would never be at risk when he was around.

"I'm fine Papa. Cooper takes good care of me. Almost as good as Sam and Reggie." He wanted to correct her. He was a lot better than Sam and Reggie. He just wasn't a hired gun like the others so there was always that little barrier.

"I don't like him. He's to free with you. I wouldn't be surprised if you get killed with him."

"Nonsense, It's everyone else I'm scared for. He's already killed three people to keep me safe." He liked the sound of the pride in her voice. So she did feel safe in his presence. Perhaps not always safe from him, but she was willing to risk life and limb with him nearby.

"What? When?"

"Well I don't really want to get into it. I can feel their blood on me still sometimes… but I am safe with him Papa. Please don't take him away from me."

There was a long pause. Cooper wondered if Squall had realized he hadn't gotten up yet. "Did you really have sex with him?"

"Yes… twice actually."

"He said three times." Cooper winced, he really didn't want to get punched in the face again. He didn't look as good with a busted up face. Nadia wouldn't like to look at him anymore then.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"He forced himself on you didn't he?" He really didn't want to remember that. He hadn't been himself at all. He didn't know if he could take her leaving him again. He might just go mad and kill her if she did that to him again. He really didn't like that idea.

"No. I still don't want to talk about it. Just know that I like having sex with him. I'm going to do it more often in the future." He felt his dick twinge with the promise. He really hoped Nadia was finally going to open up enough to him that it was no longer a one sided relationship.

"I don't want to hear this."

"You started it. What are we going to do about President Garland?" Cooper knew he would have to deal with President Garland himself. He had unfinished business to take care of before showing up at that doorstep again.

"What do you mean?"

"You said he was pretty much knocking on our door. You make unwanted guests go away. Men like him won't go away. We have to kill him." He agreed. President Garland was no one's friend. He didn't even take care of his own people he was only concerned with everyone thinking the Galbadian way. What was the point of uniting the world under Galbadian ideals? Galbadia was always at war, those were no beliefs to share.

"I'm not hearing this."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not talking about killing someone. Please just leave it, we'll handle President Garland."

"Fine." Cooper felt like Nadia needed him so he rolled over making enough noise. He completely ignored Squall walking up to Nadia's bed. He felt her soft touch in his mind, it was so sweet and warm. 'Let's get out of here. Portal out of here and I'll make you feel good.' He thought not sure how to talk to her with his mind. He could feel her mental touch fluster and her face suddenly became a light shade of pink.

"Can we be alone a moment?" He said trying to sound as nice as possible to Squall. He could see her father didn't want to leave them alone at all, but stepped out of the room his back to them. He watched Nadia wiggle into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. He felt her pack burning at his waist, he had latched it to his belt ages ago and forgot about it.

Of course she would need her teleport ring. He unzipped the bag staring down at the little black book. He wondered what she would write in the book under the new dates. He wanted to read it again when she wasn't looking. Reaching in the bag he found the ring at the bottom. He slipped it onto her left hand day dreaming as if it were a proposal ring. He in no way was ready to marry her, but he loved the idea of something marking her as his.

He could see her brace herself to cast the portal. Where was she going to take them now? Did it matter? His mind was already thinking of ways to bring her to climax without her doing any work. He wanted her to relax and unwind. He was helping her up when he noticed Squall turn around. "Be right back!" He laughed as he wrapped his arm behind her and forced them through the portal. It winked out just as Squall popped into view.

He turned around they were in a large open room. The floors were exquisite and the ceiling was high. Glass windows towered above them, the clouds floating lazy across the sky. They were still in the garden and Squall was probably hot on their trail. He eased his hold on Nadia and pressed his lips against hers. "Are you okay?"

"Just tired." She sighed back, she nestled her face into his chest. He felt like she was going to shrivel up and disappear. She felt so weak in his arms he didn't like it in the least bit.

"Can I help you in any way? Isn't there some way you can draw on me?" He questioned. He vaguely remembered Irvine talking about connecting with her. She had kept him alive when he had gotten shot. He wondered if that could be reversed and he could nurture her energy. He felt her gentle push on his mind. Bending down he whispered gently, "Take all you need Nadie." Even as he kissed her he felt her tap into him.

At first it felt like her hands were gently combing through him. He felt nothing missing, but a small hallow feeling began to bud inside his chest. He slipped his tongue into her mouth trying to focus on her and not shrink away from the odd feeling. He couldn't control the joy he felt at being able to provide something for her as she was. He had never been able to help the Sorceress side of her. All he could do was protect her physically and trying to push himself onto her emotionally. It was all too much too soon, she was accepting him as well as leaning on him as he had never seen her lean on Sam and Reggie.

He had been focusing so hard on her that he didn't realize how much she had taken. He felt his knees buckle and he fell to the floor. "I'm sorry!" She gasped dropped to her knees. She was so cute and he noticed much more full of energy than before. He smiled warmly up at her his hands tracing her jaw line.

"Don't worry I'm okay." He felt her distress ebb. Wrapping his arms around her he brought her into another kiss. He pulled her down on top of him and let her have her way with him. He loved this new side of Nadia that was very interested in expressing her sexuality to him. Was giving her a good screw she could remember all it took?

"Did it hurt when I left?" She muttered between a hated kiss. He frowned, is that what she was thinking about? Was she worried about the five years he had had to suffer without her? He hoped dearly that she wasn't trying to make it up to him out of guilt.

"Yes, I didn't know it was you, but I missed you. You were the first girl I had sex with, ironic that isn't it? I took your virginity but only after you took mine… after I took yours… well you know what I mean." He laughed pulling her back down to him. She giggled with him running her hands up his shirt. Her hands were so small and delicate. He wanted to know what they felt like touching his erection but he wasn't going to push her until he was sure she was genuinely interested.

"You lied to me. You said you had sex before."

"Have you ever known me to admit I'm inferior at something? Either way I'm a beast at sex now. I can make you scream." He said with a sly grin. He really did want to try out the things he had learned from all his partners. He wondered which things he knew would make her toes curl.

"Right, it's weird picturing you like that. What are you thinking?" She said her eyes focused on him. He felt her gently probe his thoughts. He slapped her away. No way would he let her see his excitement at the idea of trying things on her. He had to be constantly in control of the situation or fully knowledgeable. He would not be weak in front of her.

"Hey I know!" She said her mind clearly taking a completely different turn. He watched amused as she scrambled to get up. "Let's dance!" He stared at her in disbelief. He knew she was not normal because of her upbringing and fast growth, but this was unreal. He was sporting a full erection and while he promised not to force himself on her again hadn't she gotten in the least bit excited?

"Sure." He said channeling his frustration into a beaming smile. She reached into her pack pulling out her music sphere case. It didn't escape his notice she also removed the black book. She tucked it into her skirt pocket before clipping the case on to her waist band. She pulled the headphone free putting on in her ear and held the other out for him.

"What are we listening to my lady." His nose wrinkled, he hoped they shared similar tastes in music. He felt her small hands slip around his waist as she tucked herself into his body. It was a nice feeling, like a pet cat taking shelter. He wondered if she noticed his erection, he really did have to stop thinking about sex. He loved her, but she wasn't one of his loose lovers.

"Eyes on me, it's a song my grandmother wrote." She muttered giving a soft sigh when he put his arms around her. He tried to shrug off the urge to push her to the ground and ride her like a horse. Instead he embraced her tenderly as they swayed to the slow love song.

He wondered why she put up with him. He had always been crass and open with her. After seeing how gentle he had been with her in his youth he felt awful. He could barely remember anything from that day as it had been his first sexual experience highlighted with the loss of his mother all in one go. He couldn't believe how easy his younger self had disarmed her, he hadn't ever seen Nadia with all her illusions off and he wondered if he was doing things wrong. Now was no time to doubt himself he thought pushing the regret away.

"It's not fair." She whispered. He gave a confused grunt unable to break his eyes from her pained face. "What happened to you, what I did. I mean… I did what your mother told me to do. I hadn't intended to sleep with you. But I did, I think you were crushing on me back then and I just went and left. I made such a stupid promise without thinking. I haven't been a moment without you, but you went years without me. Did you still love me? Did you even know it was me?"

He didn't like how she was torn over something that shouldn't matter. "I'm here now aren't I? I didn't know you were Cara if that's what you mean, not until we gave you the name. I still had feelings for her, you, when I met you. I am head over heels in love with you and the fact that you are the girl I crushed on years ago just makes it better."

"So you aren't mad at me?" She asked slipping out of his arms.

"No, I crazy about you. Why would I be mad?"

"There you are." The doors to the ballroom slammed open Rinoa standing behind an irate Squall. "I am really sick of you playing these games Nadia it's got to stop." He really wanted to break out his whip and wrap it around Squall's neck. He couldn't, he had to let him berate her. It's what fathers did.

"I'll never do it again if you make me one promise." She said a serious look on her face. What could she possible ask for that could make her stop doing what she did? He would never admit to Nadia he had a journal about her. Knowing what kind of miracle she, he was kept notes. He was almost certain Nadia's attitude was partly because she was somewhat of a Guardian force. If she was, she must have intense urge to complete herself somehow.

"What could I possible give you that would make you behave?" Squall shot back frustrated.

"I really want President Garland gone. I'm almost certain he's the one who tried to kill Irvine." She said stomping her foot. Her music sphere case clattered to the floor.

"Honey- they're calling." Rinoa said cryptically reaching for Squall's shoulder. She looked at her wrist for a moment, "they can't reach me." Cooper was confused now what could Nadia's loony mother be talking about.

"Do as the first commands!" Nadia shouted pointing her clawed finger at Squall. Cooper jumped back in shock. Nadia's skin had turned blue her golden main twisting into a wild triple braid.

"She's asking me to kill the president of a country!" Squall snapped back hotly pulling his gunblade free. It didn't escape his notice that Squall was apparently familiar with whoever was talking. Rinoa looked distressed at her daughter's possession.

"A small price to pay to stop the swell- You must do as you have done you must understand." Her teeth were fangs now sharp and pointy. Cooper was terrified of this monster before him. Was this was Nadia would look like if she gave into the darker side of the Witch Embodiment?

"What is the Swell? You have yet to tell us what it is." Rinoa questioned meekly.

"They have not yet been born. You are not yet ready for the mind of a human trapped in the body of a beast. Fear the Lunar Cry or be consumed by it."

"There won't be another Lunar Cry," Cooper interrupted, "What is the first?" He would find out why the trespasser in his woman's body had referred to her as the first.

"There will be another Lunar Cry and the world must be at peace to meet it." Nadia's possessor said to him running a hand across his face. "Warring amongst yourselves will only assist the Swell. Obey the request of the first, she is to beget the Daughters of Hyne and the Sons of Shiva. She is the mother of those who do not need Guardian Forces or the Witch Embodiment to fight. She is a blessing from the Lady Rinoa to the world, a gift from the Mother above. Her children shall fight alongside the humans and their sorceress to quell the Swell. So says the High Daughter of Hyne. I will not call on you again."

He saw Nadia's clear blue eyes dilate for a moment. She blinked looking on Cooper in shock. "My hands!" She cried pulling away in shock. He growled out as her claws slashed his cheek.

"Dammit woman, watch what you do." He snapped his hands reaching to check his injury. He felt small droplets of blood oozing from the wounds. Really if this continued he hoped Nadia didn't mind his face scared, pummeled, or missing entirely.

"Honey- relax it will go away." Rinoa said breaking Cooper from his vanity. He noticed Nadia was terrified of herself. She was crying, the floor freezing in her distress. "You have to relax!" She said a bit sharper. Numbly he noticed the ice was climbing up his combat boots Squall was undecided if he should sheath his weapon or run his daughter through.

"Nadie." Cooper said trying to stay calm even as ice climbed up his legs. She looked up at him eyes filled with fear and confusion. "What is a High Daughter of Hyne?" She paused processing his words. She shook her head the fear in her eyes quickly overcome with confusion. "Ah well you said you wanted to kill President Garland right?" She nodded. Squall and Rinoa were silent their eyes on him. He smirked perhaps they would learn a thing or two on how to deal with their daughter from him. "What are you going to do afterwards, there will just be another President and he will be just as bad."

The blue skin was fading to her normal honey tan and her hair was unraveling itself as she was focusing on his questions. He saw her claws poised near her eyes shortening to her normal slim fingered. He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't like the idea of her accidently clawing her eyes out. Curiously he noticed he could feel her extending her power. She was mentally searching for something and it wasn't her dagger. He would have noticed if her hip had suddenly caught fire.

She waved a hand and instantly a portal formed. This time even he made a motion to stop her but instead of her moving to enter the portal Sam and Reggie exited from the portal. "You know I am sick of you disappearing on us like this." Reggie snapped. Sam was as angry as he was.

Cooper snickered, "You sound like her father."

Reggie glared back at him. He wondered if he and Reggie would ever get along. "I've been beside Nadia all her life what have you done?"

Even as Nadia started fighting with Reggie he began to think. He really had done nothing for her. Other then shower her in the blood of her enemies and force her to think of bad things, he had done nothing. He had forced her into her SeeD exam, took her virginity while she had been drunk, got her beat up when he had left her in Natalia's care, and he had even raped her. He didn't want to remember that, hell he barely could, but he had. The more he thought about it he realized he had only caused her pain.

"Are we clear?" Nadia glared at her SeeDs. He could see Reggie trying to hide his seething while Sam looked genuinely guilty. Rinoa and Squall looked shell shocked at whatever Nadia had been screaming about.

"I won't be happy until I know he's gone." Reggie muttered. He could see Nadia building herself up to shout at him again. But Cooper stopped her, his hands pushing her gently away from him. He didn't need her to distance herself from her family for his sake.

"Miss Leonhart perhaps you should listen to your friends. For my own sake," He said doing his best to put on the face she had described being scared of. "I'm going to go home, I would be an idiot to believe these people wouldn't try to kill me the moment you aren't looking." He knew he was laying it on thick, but Nadia would eat it right up. She believe everything that came out of his mouth, he just hoped she wouldn't pick him over them.

Her parents looked shocked, he wanted to snort. They had killed an all-powerful sorceress, a Class A Elite would be nothing to silence. Sam looked confused and Reggie looked angry. He was pretty sure Reggie would never kill him either, but beat him to a pulp, probably. "Coop, don't go." She whined he could see the confusion in her eyes and he felt like he was going to die.

"As I said Miss Leonhart," The words rolled off his lips so wrong, "Good-bye." He turned sharply careful not to walk to close to her parents. He didn't want Squall to come to his senses to soon and grab him. He managed to get to the double doors before everyone realized Nadia didn't like this arrangement. Slipping through them and slamming the shut. Pulling his whip out of the folds of his sweatshirt he made a quick knot on the handles. He was tightening the knot when they started shaking the doors. They wouldn't be able to get him before he got to the parking lot, that he was sure of. He was thankful he had had a few missions in Balamb Garden so he wasn't lost.

He knew he was home free the moment he climbed into the car and drove off. Remembering that he still had Nadia's pack he tossed it into the passenger seat. The zipper gave way easy and he spilled the contents onto his seat. He let himself blush at the sight of all the random things his lover had packed for their trip into time. She really was useless at SeeD stuff. She had packed only the outlined basic supplies. He eyed the useless junk with a grin; gum, candy, pens, erasers but no pencils, and her little carbuncle bunny doll. She was such a goof. He wondered what she had wrote on the wadded up piece of paper.

Eyes only half focused on the road as he drove to Balamb he uncrumbled the paper surprised to find his mother's hand writing. It had been the nurse report she had written. It was short and to the point covering Nadia's blood work, noting the depleted but unnatural core, and a hormone imbalance. He stared down at the paper his foot firmly on the brake. "No fucking way."