Hey, readers! Thank you guys for the reviews, sounds like I scared some people :P.

Oh, I thought of this last night: I'm not a ClTi shipper. I am 100% Clearith. Just so ya know.

Anywayz...I own nothing.

Chapter 21

Third Person~

Briinnnggg. Briinngggg. Cloud's phone rang. He lifted his heavy head off the pillow and glared at the silver piece of technology on his nightstand.

He looked at the clock, groaned when he saw it was 4:00, and begrudgingly answered the phone.

"What?" he demanded.

"It's Rude. I've got some information on Squall Leonhart. Do you want to hear it?"

Cloud sat up. "Yeah. What is it?"

"We've found his wife."

"Wife?" Squall was married?

"Yes. A...Riona."

"Riona?" Cloud knew they had dated for a while, but married? He couldn't imagine it.

"Yes." word of the day ladies and gents.

"Where is she?"

"A place called Traverse Town."

"Ok, got it." Cloud hung up.

He threw on some clothes and softly told Tifa where he was going.

"Mmmhmmffflle..." she replied. Cloud took that as an acceptable answer and left.

~x~

Cloud arrived at the gates of Traverse Town.

The place was pretty beat up, but it had a strong feel to it. Like a million wars had been fought within it's walls, yet it was still standing, ready for the next battle.

It reminded him of Nibelheim.

Cloud saw a brunette man wearing something that looked like pantaloons (?), standing in front of a large door.

"Hello!" the man greeted cheerfully. "Sorry, but this door to the Third District is closed."

"Whatever. Listen, do you know a woman name Riona Heartilly?" Cloud asked.

"'Bout yea big?" the man held a hand next to his eyes.

"Yeah." good, I'll find her fast. Thought the blonde.

"Black hair?"

"Yeah!"

"Last name Heartilly?"

"Yes.." Cloud was getting a little impatient.

"Nope, never seen her."

The blonde stared at him. "Seriously?"

"Nope."

Cloud sighed and walked away.

~x~

He had talked to everyone in the town! No one had seen or even heard of Riona Heartilly.

"Where is she?" Cloud grumbled.

"Where is who?" someone asked behind him. He turned and saw a woman with short black hair (along with a couple gray streaks), holding something that looked like a Border Collie pup. She toyed with a ring on a necklace around her throat.

"My...my uh...friend. Her name is Riona Heartilly." No one knew her before, I doubt she knows her. Cloud thought pessimistically.

"Oh yeah...she uh...lives in that apartment. Do you want me to take you there?" she pointed to a third-story window.

"Sure." the woman set her dog down and started towards the door, Cloud on her heels.

She bounded up a long case of stairs with the energy of a six-year old. Cloud, on the other hand, bounded up the stairs with the energy of an enhanced super-human.

"One. Two. Three." the woman counted the doors.

"Here we are, eight!" she kicked the door, then knocked twice above the doorknob. She opened the door.

"Oh, I never asked. What's your name?" Cloud asked.

She smiled. "Riona."

Cloud stared at her. "...what...?"

She nodded. "Uh-huh." she threw her arms around him.

"Howzit going, Cloudy?" Riona giggled.

"Um...good..." he said awkwardly.

"So, why're you looking for me?" she asked, leaning back on her heels.

"Where's Squall?"

She stopped. Riona stared up at Cloud.

"Squall's...gone." she said quietly.

"Gone? What do you mean, 'gone'?" Cloud couldn't believe it. I mean, sure in the dictionary, beside the word 'loner' is a picture of Squall. But he would never just 'leave.'

"He woke me up one morning. Said he had to leave. I haven't seen him since." Riona mumbled.

"..."

Riona sniffed, then made a commendable effort to regain her sunny disposition.

"Any other questions?" she chirped.

Cloud smiled weakly. "Why does no one else know you live here?"

"Cuz you've been going around asking people about 'Riona Heartilly.'"

She grinned at him. "I'm Riona Leonhart."

~x~

Xion~

I was having a very dreamless sleep.

No, that's a lie. I seemed to be in a world of swirling pastel colors. I sat in the middle of a blue universe streaked with green and purple.

A silver spiral spun into existence in front of me. I reached out to touch it and it evaporated.

I stood and waved my hand in the air. Bright green flowed out of my fingers. I made another motion and pale pink cascaded away from my hand.

With my endless supply of colors, I painted a beautiful picture of nothing.

I felt a strange sensation. Like someone was pulling me by the back of my shirt.

Then whoosh, I was back in reality.

I opened my eyes. Everything was fuzzy and out of focus. But I made out an indistinct face, light hair and something that seemed to be a halo.

Then, in an unfamiliar teenage voice, this 'angel' whispered "Wake up."

X

So, who is Xion's angel? Can ya guess? What did you guys think if her dream world. I...don't know...I just started writing and when I looked up, that's what it was.

Sorry if Riona was OOC. I haven't played FF VIII. Oh and you probably won't hear from me for a few days, I'm going somewhere that may or may not have wi-fi.

P.S Nibelheim is Cloud's hometown, if ya didn't know.