Hello my dear friend!

Zack's just down for his nap, so I thought I'd take this rare moment of peace and tranquility to send you a letter. I never get tired of writing them- do you ever get tired of receiving them?

Thank you so much for sending that old home video that Selphie made of your roof repair- Zack especially loved the footage of 'Uncle Zell' falling through the roof- he made me replay it again and again and had a hysterical fit each time. (Don't tell Uncle Zell, though- I imagine his pride is still bruised enough already!) Zack has Squall's laugh (when I can get the old meanie to laugh, which is a rare feat these days)- I could listen to him laugh all day long.

Tell 'Uncle Seifer' thank you for the fishing lure he sent along for Zack- Zack had to try it out right away, of course! I keep trying to tell him he's not going to catch much just off the shore, but he's determined to land the biggest 'shish' in the ocean. He still can't quite get the hang of 'fish'- it's very cute, and I wrote it down in his baby book. Just wait till he grows up and brings all his girlfriends home- I'll be waiting with pictures of his first smile, descriptions of his first word, and of course, pictures of his first bath! Aren't I a great mom?(He's going to kill me! Haha.) Anyway, Zack spent about three hours out there fishing today with the other children, determined to pull something in. Points for persistence, I guess, or stubbornness- wonder where he gets that from? (Don't say it.) So far, he's caught a tin can, a plastic bag, a size 12 boot, and a really angry jellyfish. He almost had a fit when I told him there was no way he could keep the thing- you can imagine the nightmare I had just getting the hook out of the nasty piece of mush. Adventures in motherhood, I guess!

When are you coming to visit next, my friend?! Zack's still talking about the now infamous 'Castle Zack' you made with its seashell windows and driftwood drawbridges – I really wish I'd gotten a picture before the tide came in. You two always have the best time when you're here! What say you take a little vacation and give your friend some much needed company (and sanity????) and rebuild Castle Zack?

Watching Selphie's home video made me very homesick for all of you- I know it's for the best, me being 'out of sight, out of mind' for now. But really, Quisty, I don't think anyone's forgotten that I'm here, especially not Shinra. I'm still trying to work on Squall to move our little beach house operation back to Balamb. Maybe we could be neighbors!

Edea sends her love. She occupies herself mostly with Celes and Daenen, who I'm happy to report are doing much better. I refuse to call them the Magitech- they're only children, after all. There's not much that can be done about the grafts or the scars, but they're still sleeping through the night now, which is a welcome break for all of us.

You're so kind to ask about my writing! To answer your question, it's going very well- it's almost as if all the words are already inside my pen- they flow so effortlessly onto the paper. As to when you can read it- well, if it's any good, you may be able to do more than read it one of these days. Cryptic, I know, but what's life without a few surprises?

When can all of us get together, I wonder? However wonderful this peace is, and however long I hope it can last, I still find myself missing the old days a little, when we were all together, heading out on a new adventure. An adventure! Isn't it amazing how time can dull all the pain and mute the fear I felt and make our journey into an adventure instead of a mission? Silly, I suppose, to think of that time with any longing- and yet, I still miss my dear friends.

I hope things are well with you and Seifer, and I hope to hear from you soon. Till then, I remain your faithful friend-

Rinoa

p.s. I've enclosed Gast's latest publication on the partial translation of the Avalon Scrolls, if you hadn't already read it. I thought you might find it interesting! (I've circled some parts!)