Disclaimer: If I would actually remember to buy a lottery ticket, I might have owned them by now. But since I haven't I still don't darn it. I do own the O.C.'s and the name Lionsbane.
Authors Note: I know it may seem like I may not like some of these characters but I do. So read on all will be explained in later chapters. Eddy Leonhartslover
CHAPTER 11 (resubmitted)
Travis and Squall walked out to the deck to join the other guys. "So, why do you like me?" Squall asked bluntly.
Travis hadn't expected him to be so forthright, "Well for one thing you're a really nice man my nephew is crazy about you and loves you to pieces. You have people that are amazingly loyal to you. My sister is totally sprung on you, and loves you."
"Thanks. But Avalena being in love with me didn't stop Drake from threatening me or Zane from punching me." He replied.
"Zane punched you? Did it hurt?"
Squall snorted, "Yeah right! He's a wuss. Your sister hit me harder then that."
"Avalena hit you?" Travis asked astonished.
"Yes, the night before last, back handed me flat on my ass." Squall chuckled then sobered "You realize that you're the only one of her brother's that I have meet who hasn't threatened me with bodily harm. Drake threatened to break every bone in my body if I hurt her again, and I already mentioned Zane punching me. So why haven't you threatened me?"
"Because I'm a lover not a fighter." Travis laughed, and then turned serious "Drake called me when he couldn't get Avalena to stop crying. I called her best friend Ambyr. It was Ambyr and I that she sobbed her heart out to. At first I wanted to hate you, but when she told me about that absurd promise that she had you make, and how you had actually kept your word, I thought so much better of you. She told us that she was pregnant and went to tell you, only to be told that you had been killed." Travis's eyes misted over a little, "I never want to see that look on a woman's face again. After she had grieved I asked her to tell me more about you, Ambyr already knew about you. Avalena told me about you and I knew that she loved you and still loved you and would till her dying day." He paused and took a long drink of his beer and finished the can.
"Everyone else including Drake would get mad at Ambyr and I when they tried to fix her up with someone and we would sabotage it. For the love of Hyne, she had just found out that you had been killed. She wasn't ready to go out and start dating again. Besides what good would my threatening you do? None at all, you're a good man Squall. And I for one am damn glad that you are with my sister." Travis finished passionately.
"Thank you Travis. That means a lot." Squall smiled at him, tipped his beer back and finished it. "Are you ready for another one?"
"Sure."
Squall took the empties and tossed them in the recycle bin, "Hey do you guys want another beer?" He asked Seifer and Raijin.
He received a yes from both of them and went into the house to get the beer for all of them. He carefully balanced the cans on top of each other and carried them out to the deck and passed them around. "Here Damon, I brought you another one as well."
"Thanks Squall." Damon said, "I'm going to see if dad and Aunt Avalena need any help." He smiled and walked into the house.
Squall took the other two beers back over to where Travis was sitting and handed him one of the beers. "I wanted to tell you thank you for what you did for Damon earlier."
"It's no problem, he's a good kid." Squall said with an easy smile.
The doorbell ringing stopped the conversation from progressing any further, "Squall could you get that please?" Avalena called from inside.
"Sure sweetheart," he called back, "Excuse me please."
Squall went into the house and answered the door, "Hi come on in." He greeted his friends.
Zell held out the things that Squall had ask him to pick up, "Here you go, I brought you a change of clothes as well, but I can see that you don't need them." He offered with a smile.
Squall took his things and led them into the house. "Wait here just a minute while I put these things away." He said, went upstairs and put his things in the bedroom, and went back to the foyer and got them. Leading them further into the house he stopped in the kitchen. He went over to where Avalena was talking to Derek, "Come here a minute." He put his arm around her waist and led her over to where Zell and the girls were standing, "Avalena, this is Quistis Trepe." He indicated the blond, "and this is Selphie Tilmitt." He turned her towards the brunette.
"Hello Quistis." She said to the blond. "Hi Selphie." And did the same for the brunette, "Welcome to our home. Lunch is almost ready, Squall, see if our guests would like a drink."
"Come on, Zell could you show them to the deck and I'll grab drinks. What would you like, we have coffee, soft drinks, beer, and Jackie Walker B & G. So what will be?"
"Coffee please, black." Zell said.
"Could I have a soda please?" Quistis asked.
"Coffee, two creams and three sugars." Selphie said, she was reeling from a hangover and hadn't wanted to come, but Zell said that Squall had insisted they all be there that it was very important.
Quistis was feeling really uncomfortable. The horrible things she had said two nights before came back to slap her in the face. The words 'whore' and 'bastard' slammed into her brain. Zell had been right she looked at things a lot differently once she had sobered up. She was really glad that Squall and Avalena hadn't heard what she had said about her or that cute little boy. Zell lead them out to the deck where they awaited Squall.
Selphie's thoughts were a little different though she had at first felt contrite about what she had said. That was until she had gone and visited Irvine and he had told her that one of the men that he was in jail with had told him that Avalena was a high priced whore, who was worth every penny that was spent on her. And it was she who had him thrown in jail because she tried to pawn her son off on him too. She believed Irvine, after all he had never lied to her.
Quistis saw that Seifer was there and her cheeks burned again from what he had said to her. Hyne he was so crude. She knew how Squall felt about him so why was he even here. She glared across the deck at him.
Seifer had seen the glare and had started to sneer back at her but changed it to a smile. He had been feeling really mellow the past 24 hours or so and he liked it, there was no way that he was going to let Quistis Trepe spoil his good mood.
When Fujin saw them she turned to Seifer who promptly told her not to say anything and turned to Raijin and did the same. "It's not up to us to tell Squall and Avalena what they said about Tristen and her. Please keep your mouths shut on that subject. I really don't want to piss Squall off or hurt Avalena."
Travis had overheard and wondered what those two women had said that would anger Squall and hurt his sister. He filed it away and decided to ask Seifer at a later time. He loved Derek he really did, but he thought that Seifer Almasy was a total babe. Avalena had always done that though attracted gorgeous people to her, no matter if they were men or women. He remembered what he had told his son about Squall, being one of those rare people who didn't know how good-looking he was. His sister Avalena was the same way, she didn't realize that she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, and that wasn't a brother's bias either. His and Derek's friends, some of who were also in same sex relationships and those who weren't had told them the same thing.
Avalena went upstairs to let Tristen and Laguna know that lunch was ready, while she was doing this Squall returned out to the deck, "If everybody will follow me, Avalena has told me that lunch is ready. I'll tell everyone why you're here after we eat." He said with an easy smile.
When they got to the dining room Tristen came over to his father, "Daddy can I sit by you please?" He asked with the same smile his father had just used on their guest. He had decided to change his clothes for lunch and was wearing a royal blue tank top and his other pair of black leather pants and he looked exactly like his daddy.
"You sure can." He grabbed his son's hand and walked with him into the dining room. When everyone was seated Squall made introductions around the table. He started with his son who was seated on his left. Then he moved onto Seifer who was seated on the other side of Tristen, to Rinoa, then Fujin, Laguna and Zell. He paused as he gazed lovingly down to the other end of the table at his woman. He indicated that they all knew Avalena, and introduced Selphie. Moved onto Travis and Derek, then to Raijin, Quistis and finished with Damon. "Alright everybody dig in."
Plates were filled and the conversation was lively around the table. When everybody had eaten and the few leftovers had been put away. Squall pulled Avalena aside, "Do you think we should tell everyone or just those that Tristen indicated last night?" He asked her and nuzzled her ear. He nibbled a little on her neck, fighting drawing the skin in and deepening the mark he had put on her earlier. Damn it he was having trouble keeping his hands off her. He reluctantly released her.
"With the exception of Raijin and Fujin everybody's going to know." She answered, turned and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. Whispering against his lips, "I'm having trouble keeping my hands off you."
He laughed against her mouth "I'm having the same problem. Let me get Tris and we can ask him." He gently pushed away from her and went over and picked up their son who was chattering away with Seifer.
"But daddy Seifer and I were talking." He protested.
"I'm terribly sorry, but your mama and I need to ask you something important. Then you can come back and finish your talk with Seifer." He smiled at his son. "You remember what you told your mama and I last night?"
Tristen's eyes momentarily glazed with fear but when he saw his parents, the fear subsided and he replied, "Yes daddy."
"Is it okay if we tell everyone?"
"It's okay if you tell everyone daddy. I didn't think it was important at the time, but they were there too."
"Who was there Tris?" Squall asked him
"Fujin and Raijin. And Uncle Travis and Aunt Derek can tell them about my dreams too." He offered with a winsome smile, "And if we have to we can call Aunt Amby."
"Very well, would you please take everybody into the family room and your mama and I will get dessert and coffee for everyone. No coffee for you though how about a glass of milk instead?"
"Can it be chocolate please?" Tristen asked.
Squall picked his son up and kissed his cheek, "Yes, you can have chocolate milk. Now go on and escort our guests to the family room." He hugged his son and sat him back to his feet.
Tristen walked back over to where Seifer was standing he had been joined by Rinoa, "Wait here." He said and went to the deck where everyone had retired after lunch. "Would you come with me please, my mama and daddy are getting dessert and wants us to meet in the family room." He waited until they had regained their feet and walked over to where he was standing and led them into the house, to where Seifer and Rinoa were still waiting. "Follow me please." He chirped happily.
He walked down the hall towards the family room automatically expecting them to follow him, which they did. When they arrived at the family room, the elegant beauty of it impressed those who hadn't seen it before. The carpet was storm cloud gray and the walls were painted a pale pink. The furniture was cedar and upholstered in pale mauve with pillows that were yellow, pale purple and pale blue. The fireplace was pale gray brick and the mantle was the same cedar as the furniture. The only art in the room was the painting that hung above the fireplace.
Seifer saw the painting and strolled casually over to it, he looked up at the painting and was a little embarrassed at the sensual innocence of it. It was obvious that the two people in the painting where not only dancing but making love as well. He glanced down at the gold placard that said "Lovers Dance". He looked back up at the painting and studied the two people in the painting. "Cristos, that's Avalena and Squall." He thought and saw the tank top that was lying discarded among the wild flowers, on closer inspection he saw the label that read Adem. He turned and looked at the room again and realized that the furnishings in this room were a setting for the jewel that hung above the fireplace. He turned back to the painting and studied it a bit more.
"It's quite good isn't it?" Travis said from behind him.
"It's exquisite. I just wonder why I haven't seen any copies or at least seen pictures of it in the art books that I've read." He answered.
"You like art?" Travis inquired.
"Yes, and Adem is one of my favorites, I have lithographs of a lot of his work." Seifer answered.
"Her work." Travis corrected, with a smile.
Seifer spun around and looked at him, "Her work?" He cocked his head to the side just a little bit, "Avalena DeMarco. Avalena is Adem, isn't she?" He turned once again to the fireplace.
"Yes. This is my favorite piece. And the reason you haven't seen any copies of it is that this is the only one." Travis replied and took one step back to look at the painting again.
Everyone else had taken seats around the room Quistis was miffed she wanted to look at that painting above the fireplace too. But there was no way this side of hell she would go and look at while Seifer was looking at it. At one time she had really liked Seifer Almasy, but now she found him an overbearing braggart, but yet she also found him attractive. She watched as Rinoa walked over to where Seifer was and almost choked on her spleen when he casually put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.
"What a beautiful painting." Rinoa said softly and looked a little closer at it, "Seifer, that's Squall and Avalena isn't it?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Are they, " she turned pink, she stood on tip toes and whispered in his ear, "well you know?"
Seifer smiled down at her and replied for her ears only, "Yes they're making love."
Squall had come into the family room and placed the tray of cups, saucers, spoons, the sugar dish the creamer and napkins on the sideboard. He quickly emptied the tray and returned to the kitchen to get the coffee urn. Avalena had finished laying the desserts out on the serving tray when he reentered the kitchen. He put the urn on the empty tray that he was carrying and waited for her to pick up her tray and exit the room. "Squall, why don't you go first?"
"Because you have a nice ass." He answered and winked at her, and she did, she had the nicest ass he had ever seen, it was a perfect inverted heart.
"Yeah well so do you." She replied pertly and laughed, but left the room ahead of him swinging her hips with more emphasis as she walked, so they resembled a pendulum, but when she got to the door of the family room she resumed her normal walk.
Seifer and Rinoa had turned away from the painting and were talking to Travis when Avalena and Squall walked in, Seifer excused himself and walked over to where Avalena had just stopped by the sideboard and took the tray from her and sit it on the smooth surface. "Thanks Seifer." She offered with a smile, and returned to the kitchen where she made two glasses of chocolate milk one for her son and the other for her nephew and returned to the living room. She stopped at the sideboard and placed two cookies and a small piece of the chocolate cake on a saucer and took these over to him. "Try not to spill Tris." Then unfolded a napkin and placed it over his lap.
When everyone had helped him or herself to the bounty on the sideboard Avalena and Squall each took a cup of coffee, but where she took a truffle and a canolie, he took four of the truffles, and went and sat by their son.
Squall took a swallow of coffee and said "I know that you are probably curious as to why Avalena and I have asked you here today? All I ask is that you try to keep an open mind." He paused and let out a deep breath he put a lot of emphasis on the when, "When Tristen dreams, his dreams come true."
"What a bunch of bullshit?" Selphie said contemptuously, "You mean you had Zell drag me here because of some kids dreams, when I could be visiting my Irvine. Please Squall I thought you were smarter then that. He's probably doing it for attention." She pointed an accusing finger at Avalena, "And that woman is just propagating it."
Squall placed his plate and cup on the end table and rose to his feet. He walked over to where Selphie was sitting and glared down at her. His jaw was sat in hard lines, his eyes had turned ice blue, "He's not some kid, Miss Tilmitt, he's my son. When I tell you his dreams come true you had best believe they come true. Do I make myself clear Miss Tilmitt?" He snarled coldly at her.
"Yes sir." Her voice broke a little. Squall had never referred to her as Miss Tilmitt. He was the most casual commander that any of them had ever seen or had. She wasn't really sure if she liked who he was becoming. She looked over to where Avalena was sitting with that brat. She still couldn't bring herself to refer to him as Squall's son. Granted the boy did look like him, but that didn't mean that Squall was his father. In all intents and purposes Laguna could be his father just as easily.
Squall pivoted and stomped back over to where Avalena and his son where sitting. He sit down behind her and drew her tight against his body, he was silently seething. "Could you please tell them about Tristen's dreams?" He asked rigidly but he started to calm just being close to her again, she had always had that effect on him, with just a touch or a gentle word she could usually help quell his raging emotions.
She tilted her head up just a little, and drew his head down and kissed him softly on the mouth, "Certainly my love." And preceded to tell them about some of Tristen's dreams, she left out the one that he had the night before. She wanted to make sure that they believed the fact that his dreams came true, and she would not have Tristen humiliated or called a liar.
Quistis had listened intently to what Squall and Avalena had said about Tristen. She had watched the little boy during lunch and had come to the conclusion that rather she wanted to believe it or not, Squall Leonhart was his father. Sweet Hyne he looked exactly like Squall, except his face was softer and his eyes were a lot warmer. Although in observing Squall she had seen that his face had softened as well and his eyes weren't as cold as they usually were.
Yes it still burned her what Seifer had said, but deep in her heart she knew that he was right. She had heard what was said about Squall at Garden, and she had always wanted to see if it were true. She knew that he and Rinoa hadn't been very intimate and knew at times he wasn't entirely happy with his relationship with her. And maybe she might have another chance at winning him over. But now as she looked across the room at him and Avalena, she knew that he was so in love with her that she, Quistis, would never have a chance. If he ever found out what she said about Avalena that she would lose him as one of her best friends.
She had also watched and listened to Avalena during lunch and realized that she was one of the nicest people she would ever meet. She had a natural effervescence that surrounded her that was contagious. Her sweetness wasn't fake like some peoples tended to be. She had opened her home to them and had accepted them because they were Squall's friends. All the hateful things that she had said at Jinx's was causing her stomach to churn and she felt like she was going to vomit. Jumping to her feet she ran from the room and outside to the deck where she spewed the contents of her stomach over the railing.
Avalena saw that Quistis had turned a pale green and then ghost white, she gained her feet and followed the other woman outside where she saw her vomit over the railing.
Avalena went back into the house and got a cool wet wash cloth and took it back outside. When she arrived back out to the deck Quistis was on her knees dry heaving. Going over to her Avalena leaned down and tenderly wiped her face off with the cool cloth. "Are you all right Quistis?" She asked her voice filled with concern.
Quistis shook her head no, and started to cry, "No, I'm not alright. I'm sorry Avalena. I'm so very sorry."
"Shh, now you don't have to be sorry for getting sick. It happens to everybody now and then." Avalena offered warmly.
"I'm not sorry for getting sick. Well yes I am, but what I'm really sorry for is what I said about you and Tristen. I said horrible things about you, and I didn't even know you." She was crying in earnest now. She looked at Avalena her sky blue eyes were bloodshot and still filled with tears. "I called you a whore Avalena and your sweet little boy a bastard. You welcomed me in your house after I said those horrible things about you. I'm so very sorry that I prejudged you. I know better then that. Oh I could blame it on the fact that I was drunk, but I won't. You are both so nice." Quistis sniffed back her tears and wiped the excess moisture off her cheeks with the back of her hand. "I was concerned about Squall, and I didn't want to see him get hurt. I thought you were an opportunistic bitch. I'm sorry Avalena, so very sorry that I jumped to the wrong conclusions about you." She hiccupped out and looked into Avalena's eyes and saw that they were hurt which caused her to start crying again.
Avalena was hurt and angry by what Quistis had said, about calling her a whore and Tris a bastard. But she hadn't known her at the time and when she had said that she was concerned about Squall and didn't want to see him hurt that was all that mattered, she couldn't stay mad at her. She also knew from her body language and the inborn instinct that women have that Quistis loved Squall, in more then the way a good friend does and she also knew that there was something that Quistis hadn't asked her yet. Before she could ask Quistis filled in the blanks for her.
"How old was Squall when you and he first had sex together? The reason I'm wondering was I was so vehement about him not being Tristen's father, thinking that he was much to young to be a father and sexual active. But now I know that I was wrong. So terribly wrong about everything."
"He was 15 when he and I first became lovers." Avalena answered her truthfully, "Quistis I want to ask you something. Do you still feel the same way? Do you still think that I'm a whore and that Tristen's a bastard?"
"No, of course not." She put her hands over her face and continued to cry. She felt warm arms go around her shoulders and she was pulled into Avalena's embrace.
"I forgive you Quistis. I really do, you were concerned for Squall and that's all that matters. You were being loyal to your friend. I know it's going to be difficult for you but I would like for you to tell Squall as well." Quistis started to protest, but stopped when Avalena shook her head no, "He's a good man Quistis you know that. He has a good heart and I know that he will forgive you if you tell him why you said what you did and tell the other thing as well." She finished warmly.
Squall was concerned for Quistis she had always been a good friend. He handed his son to Seifer and followed Avalena to the deck. He wasn't stupid he knew how Quistis still felt about him no matter how much she protested.
When he heard the horrible things that she had said about Avalena and their son, he wanted to throw her out of their house. But when he saw that she was crying and heard the genuine regret in her voice, he couldn't stay angry with her. Just as he knew that Avalena couldn't stay angry either. He walked over and sank down to his knees beside them, "I do forgive you Quistis, and Avalena is right that you do need to tell me everything. But this is not the time for it. Please it's very important that you hear what Tristen has dreamed about it. It is of great importance to all of us. After this is all over I promise you that we can get together and talk." His voice was deep. "Now come on into the house and I'll show you where Avalena keeps spare toothbrushes so you can brush your teeth and wash your face and rejoin us in the family room." He finished with a smile and helped both of them to their feet.
"I am so sorry Squall, Avalena, and I understand if you want me to leave."
"We don't want you to leave Quis, after you hear about Tristen's dream you will know why. But that's not the only reason. You're one of the people that I consider a friend Quis and I have damn few of them." Squall said and led her into he house and to the bathroom. He and Avalena returned to the family room to wait for her. They resumed their seats and Tristen even though he was fascinated with Seifer squirmed his way out of the man's embrace and went back to the warm comfort of his mother's lap.
When Quistis had rejoined them in the family room, she started to cross the room well away from everyone else, but stopped when Avalena called her over to sit by Squall and her. She sat down on the floor by them and was startled when Tristen reached out and stroked down her face. "You're to pretty to cry." He smiled at her and leaned out of his mother's lap and gave her a quick hug, "Okay Quistie, so please don't cry anymore."
The innocent plea of that charming little boy almost caused her to cry again, but she changed it to a smile, "Alright Tristen I'll try not to cry anymore. So you're dreams come true do they?"
"Yep, I don't dream that often, but every time I do they come true. My Aunt Amby say's that's it's a special gift from Hyne. I would have preferred a kitten. Because sometimes they're really scary, like the one I had last night." His pale sapphire eyes filled with fear again, he shuddered, pulled away from her and burrowed into his mother's arms again.
"Shh, my little lion, you're father and I won't let it happen. What did your daddy promise last night? Do you remember? He promised you that he would not go back there alone. And what is your daddy above all things?"
"A man of honor mama." Tristen answered and looked up into his fathers blue eyes and saw all the love he felt for him and his mama shining in the sparkling blue depths. He reached up for his father and was pulled up from his mother's lap and over her shoulder into his father's embrace, "Right daddy, you're a man of honor and your word is your bond."
"That's exactly right my little man. I want you to try not to be afraid all right? Your mama and I are going to tell everyone about the dream you had last night." Squall said and shifted Tristen slightly on his shoulder so he could pull Avalena back against him as well.
"Squall before you tell us about the dream that Tristen had last night, you're saying that his dreams actually do come true?" Zell asked from where he was lounging.
"From what Avalena has told me yes they do." Squall answered.
"That's amazing." Seifer said with sincerity, he was sitting on the couch he had one arm casually slung over Rinoa's shoulders.
"The only thing that's amazing is that you are actually falling for that line of shit." Selphie snapped, "I've had lots of dreams and none of mine have ever come true."
"Tell them Avalena. Tell them! Tell them about Travis. Tell them how Tristen dreamt that you would bring him home a daddy. Tell them how he was screaming in terror last night from the force of his nightmare. Tell them all of it god damn it." Squall had gone from being calm to seething once again. He stood abruptly and thrust Tristen into his mother's arms. His temper boiled over. He turned to Selphie, "If you and that drunken prick weren't so fucking important to the outcome of this mission I'd throw you out. But Tristen said that all of us were there Selphie. All of us! I have no idea what Avalena or our son has done to you but whatever it is your petty comments are not helping."
Selphie leapt to her feet and faced Squall "You want to know what my problem is? My problem's that you believe some high priced whore that her fucking bastard is yours. Come off it Squall granted he looks a little bit like you, but his father could be one of a 100 different men. I thought about it and I've done the math. Quistis was right he's too old to be yours. Sweet Hyne Squall you would have had to be fucking her since you were 15 or so. It's that bitch and her snot nosed bastards fault that my sweet Irvine is in jail." She yelled at him.
She spun to where Avalena was sitting in stunned silence. "I went to visit him you whore. He told me that his cellmate Jayson told him exactly what you are, you'd fuck anyone for enough gil, and that you tried to pawn that little bastard off as his son. You sicken me, and so does that lying little shit." She screamed. "Do you hear that? You are a foul-mouthed little liar. You are bastard and a liar."
Avalena stood so quickly that Tristen tumbled out of her lap she stomped over to where Selphie was standing and backhanded her across the face, turning she pounded from the room, her usually warm face had gone cold and her sparkling golden amber eyes had turned to cold burnished copper.
Seifer pulled himself off the couch, walked over to where Tristen was pulling himself up and scooped the little boy up in his arms and started to make soothing sounds deep in his throat to quell his fear and anxiety.
"See she can't handle the truth." Selphie sneered, "Hyne Squall I thought you were smarter then that. His dreams come true. Yeah right!"
Squall didn't respond, he had seen that Seifer had picked up Tristen and knew that his son was in safe hands. He was beyond furious right now, but he was more concerned with making sure that Avalena was all right then calling Selphie the slanderous shrew that he wanted to. He knew that if he didn't get the fuck out of there and check on Avalena that he would bury his fist in Selphie Tilmitt's face.
He had fought Edea, Adel, and Ultimecia, all of who were women, but they had been his enemies. He had never wanted to hit a woman whom he considered a friend. Did he still consider her a friend? To be honest, he wasn't sure anymore. She hadn't given Avalena a chance. He couldn't fault her for believing in Irvine and being loyal to him. But, she had believed the words of his cellmate. His face which had been soft and friendly earlier, had turned hard and cold, his eyes had turned frosty silver blue from his anger and his mouth that had held a warm smile was now a harsh frown that was quickly turning into a snarl. He stalked from the room to go find his Avalena, before he decimated Selphie with the sharp edge of his tongue or the even sharper edge of Lionsbane.
Before anyone had time to react Seifer asked, "Selphie, did you say that Irvine's cellmate's name was Jayson?" He cuddled Tristen tighter against his shoulder and whispered softly and soothingly "It's all right Tristen, your mama is going to be fine."
"I'm not lying Seifer. My mama taught me that lying is wrong." Tears had filled those pale blue eyes and spilled down his cheeks, "Why does she hate my mama and me?" He sobbed.
Seifer didn't answer his question he honestly didn't know how. So instead he softly said, "I know you're not Tris." He was harsh when he turned towards Selphie "You haven't answered me Selphie. You did say that Irvine said his cellmate was named Jayson right?" Seifer had wiped the tears off Tristen's cheeks and was softly stroking his head, which was now tucked against his shoulder. "Did he happen to give a last name?"
Quistis, Zell, Fujin and Raijin had all quickly perked up at the name Jayson. Please, don't let his last name be Mansini, they silently prayed. Anyone but him, he had personally tormented and tortured each of them, but he had always been the Headmasters pet and they could say nothing about him. When Seifer had first shown up at Garden he had shown a lot of promise of being a bright and shining pupil, and he was. That is until his second year there. Then he seemed to take over where Jayson had left off, tormenting lower classmen and those who were smaller then he was.
"Irvine said that his name was Jayson Mansini. Why is that so all fired fucking important?" Selphie snapped.
"Much to my shame, he's my adoptive brother. So tell me Selphie did he tell 'Your Sweet Irvine' what he was in for?" At her negative response he continued, "He's a rapist and a sadist. His sickness doesn't just include raping and torturing women Selphie, but men too. So you're going to believe the word of a sick twisted bastard instead of someone as sweet as Avalena? Cristos help me Selphie, you could have at least given Avalena a chance to defend herself, even though she really doesn't need to." He said with disgust and carried Tristen over to the couch where he held the little boy against his broad shoulder while he sobbed his little heart out.
What Selphie had said about Avalena and Tristen and also Seifer's revelation about his brother and his defense for Avalena and Tristen stunned the rest of the room's occupants into silence each person having different thoughts.
Laguna had always admired Selphie Tilmitt and had harbored a crush on her for the past four years. He had never revealed that to anyone, she was one of his son's friends and there was the fact that he was old enough to be her father. But now he was disappointed in her. She more then anyone else always checked her facts first before she jumped hip deep into Lake Conclusion. It didn't help matters that Tristen was his grandson and he considered Avalena his daughter-in-law in everything but name and he loved them both to distraction. He didn't know Seifer Almasy that well, but he had seemed genuinely sorry for what he had done to Squall in the past. If Squall could forgive him then he Laguna really couldn't hold a grudge. There was the fact that Tristen and Avalena really liked him, and he had stood up for them. He wasn't sure how his son felt about Seifer, if he considered him a friend or not. But, he would make damn sure that he told Squall later that Seifer had defended Avalena and Tristen.
Derek was just stunned he had known Avalena for what seemed like forever. She had always been such a little sweetheart. He remembered when he and Travis had first been trying to adopt and had found it close to impossible. She had had been 13 at the time and it had been right before hers and Travis's parents and two brothers had been killed, both he and Travis had been 23. She had told them that when she turned 18 that if they weren't successful in adopting she would be a surrogate for them. He gave the part of his heart that he hadn't given to Travis to her and she still owned it. But she didn't have to be a surrogate for them a few months later they had adopted their son Damon. But he would always remember her kindness. He liked Seifer Almasy, the young man seemed to genuinely care about Avalena and Tristen and they about him. That wasn't the only reason though he did seem like a descent young man. Like Laguna he wasn't sure about how Squall and Seifer felt about each other. But they did seem to get along well enough.
Travis wanted to slap the shit out of her. Who did that bitch think she was speaking about his sister and his nephew that way? Why did it matter to her if Squall and Avalena weren't married when Tristen had been conceived? True Laguna Loire had told Damon, Drake and him about the story that had been told to him the day before. But he wanted to sit down with Squall and Avalena and hear more from both them. He knew most of Avalena's side of it, but not Squall's. He wasn't sure about Seifer. He saw how he interacted with Tristen, Avalena and that pretty little brunette Rinoa Heartilly. And from what he saw he liked. Like his life-partner Derek, he also thought that Seifer was a descent enough young man. After he had so readily blasted that little bitch for besmirching Avalena and Tristen, he liked him even more.
Damon DeMarco glared at Selphie he wanted to call her the fucking bitch that he thought she was, but he had developed a really quick case of hero worship for Squall Leonhart and didn't want to disappoint him by swearing in front of his parents or these other people. He loved his parents to pieces, but there were just some things he couldn't talk to them about. But after talking to Squall, he had realized that this was a man to whom he could talk to about anything and if he asked him not to say anything he wouldn't. He loved his Aunt Avalena and his cousin Tristen almost as much as he loved his parents. She always made time for him no matter how busy she was. Yeah he admitted to himself that he had behaved like a first class jerk earlier that day. He had thought that this Squall Leonhart would take her from her family or make it to where she wouldn't be able to spend time with them. Seifer, he wasn't to sure about, part of him felt a little sorry for the guy having such a dick head for an adoptive brother, but he really admired him for defending his aunt and cousin so quickly.
Zell was flabbergasted, he had always thought that Selphie was smarter then that. Like most of the students at Garden he hadn't known that Jayson Mansini was Seifer's adoptive brother. At least his adoptive parents had given him their last name. Seifer's it seemed hadn't bothered. He had asked his mother one time what his birth parent's names had been. He was ecstatic having the name of Zell Dincht especially after he had seen the adoption papers, Hyne he would have rather died then go through life with the name Zell Schells. He could just hear the names that he would have been tormented with. The most prominent was Zell Smells. It kind of boggled his mind that Seifer and Squall seemed to be friends now. There had been a change in Seifer in the past couple of days. He seemed more mellow, just look at the way he jumped to Avalena and Tristen's defense.
Raijin and Fujin both thought that Selphie Tilmitt was being a right little bitch. She came into Avalena's home and treated her like she was something to be scrapped off a pair of boots. After having spent just a brief amount of time with Avalena DeMarco they understood why Seifer liked and admired her, she was genuinely a very nice and likable lady. And her son Tristen he was just as cute as he could be. After his initial questions he had come back and talked to them a little bit more and they had found him charming.
Quistis opened her mouth to ask Selphie what her problem was, but snapped it closed again. Irvine, Selphie and she had all been so very, very wrong about Avalena and Tristen. They had misjudged them and she still felt guilty about it, even though Avalena and Squall had forgiven her. She was hit with the guilty feelings of how they had first treated Rinoa and she had proved herself time and time again and she had sworn that she would not prejudge anyone like that again, yet she had. Seifer was another matter entirely they had all seen how quickly he defended Avalena and Tristen. He had said two nights before that he liked kids, but he had laced it with enough sarcasm that nobody believed him. But seeing the way that he was comforting Tristen and how he had interacted with him earlier, she knew that he really did love kids and would probably be perfectly content just sitting holding and talking to that little boy until the end of time.
Rinoa had started to jump up and slap that stupid sneer off Selphie's face, but was stopped when Seifer's arm tightened around her shoulders. She had told them that there was no way possible that Avalena DeMarco was a whore. She had also told them that if she said that Squall was Tristen's father then they had better believe it. Quistis it seemed had believed her. Selphie apparently didn't. She had always like Selphie, she had been the only one that had actually accepted her right from the beginning, where it had taken everybody else including Squall a little time to actually warm up to her. This wasn't the Selphie who was her friend. This was a totally different Selphie. She wondered what she had thought before she went and visited Irvine Kinneas in jail? Hyne above, Selphie had always seemed so reasonable, that is until lately.
She had noticed that it seemed like whenever she had seen her that she was either getting drunk or just drunk. She had made a mental note to mention it to Squall, but so many other things had happened she had forgotten about it until now. In the few days that she had gotten to know Avalena she considered her one of her friends. She was so easy to talk to. Then there was Tristen he was absolutely adorable and god and goddess he looked exactly like Squall. She had seen him strutting around earlier, in his black leather pants, black hard leather boots and royal blue tank top, and had to fight not to burst out laughing, he had obvious copied that walk from his father. Squall had that same arrogant strut. Ah Squall, a part of her was still in love with him and always would be. Did it hurt that he was with someone else? Yes it did. But when she said that she was happy that he had found his happily ever after she had meant it.
Seifer drew her in a little closer to his body. Had she ever stopped loving him and being in love with him? Who the hell was she kidding? Of course she hadn't. When she had first meet Seifer Almasy, she had tumbled head over heels in love with him. He was everything that she had been warned about, he was definitely the bad boy, and he was the epitome of a Dark Knight. That's what had first attracted her to him. But, he had been nice to her in the beginning, really showing an interest in her rebellion with the Forest Owls. When he kissed her and touched her, it made her want to sing out in rapture. But when she had been reunited with him at Balamb Garden he had treated her totally different then the Seifer she had spent that glorious summer with the Seifer she had fallen in love with. She hadn't known at the time but knew now that he had been manipulated and seduced by the power that Edea and Adel, who were in direct connection with Ultimecia, had promised him. If he became their knight, which he readily agreed to, because he felt it had given him strength.
When she had seen Squall at that Graduation Dance she had of course been instantly attracted to his dark sinister good looks. Part of her had fallen for him. He was her White Knight. She loved him and she knew that he loved her, but he was right when he had said it wasn't the kind of love that she deserved to have. She looked up at Seifer she wondered how he still felt about her.
After Zell had dropped them off last night they had gone out for coffee and had talked for hours. There were several things that they had talked about, how he was used by Ultimecia. What Cid had ordered him to do and the repercussions if he didn't, she knew that he was sorry for what he had done in the past and hoped that maybe, just maybe they might now have a future. But not once had the L word came up. If emotions weren't running so high about other things right now she'd throw caution to the wind and her arms around him kiss him and tell him that she loved him and had never stopped loving him. Later, she promised herself, she would tell him later and hope that maybe he might feel the same.
