A/N: I typed this chapter during all the breaks in the Wimbledon tennis final today. Did anyone watch it? It was so close at the end!

Thank you for all the reviews guys! Maybe or maybe not what you want to hear, but it's possible that the next chapter will be the last, it just depends how long it takes me to write the ending. I've had the ending planned since the beginning, but it didn't seem to be taking shape until now. But it's hard to say. Again many thanks!!

Chapter Thirty Six

Ellone had kept the conversation flowing until Squall thought it was safe to leave Rinoa in her company alone, without either of them feeling uncomfortable. However without her brother there to chip in with small comments, Ellone had run out of things to say, and had taken to staring out of the window at the passing clouds. Rinoa looked through the messages in her phone, wishing that she could think of something to say, but finding that closing her eyes was more appealing. She felt tired, and the whirr of the airship engine blocked out all thoughts. Before she knew it she felt herself dozing.

About half an hour later she heard voices, but she didn't force herself to stir. She listened without comprehending, the voices taking on characters in her imagination, and the words meaning nothing.

"Alright El?"

Ellone looked up from the book she was reading, and moved across the seat so that Squall could sit beside her. She looked over at Rinoa, who had curled her legs up next to herself, and was leaning against the window, using it as a makeshift pillow. Squall followed her eye-line and then looked away.

"She's sweet Squall, I like her," Ellone said.

Squall raised an eyebrow.

"But?" he questioned.

"No but," Ellone replied turning back to her book. She wasn't sure whether Rinoa was really asleep, not that she would be unhappy for Rinoa to hear what she had to say, but Rinoa probably wouldn't want to be talked about. Especially if she thought those talking imagined her asleep.

"You're not convincing me…"

Ellone sighed.

"She doesn't seem the kind of girl to…"

"To what?" Squall asked. He was intrigued to know what Ellone thought about Rinoa, since as his sister he wanted her approval more than anyone's. Plus she had always been more perceptive about feelings and relationships, and Squall often trusted her instincts about people over his own. Not that he had thought for a moment that the two girls wouldn't get along, so it was clearly himself that Ellone had reservations about. He was proved to be right a second later.

"… To put up with you. Now that you've made me say it, don't get in a huff!" Ellone warned. She saw Squall turn to face her, but she didn't look at him. She'd never told Squall her opinions on his work ethic before, not unless she was joking. But if someone didn't say something soon, he might accidentally lose yet another person that cared about him. Just like all the others that had drifted away, fed up with always being second best. Of course she didn't imagine he'd change just because she'd pointed this out, but to be aware could only be a good thing.

Ellone saw his puzzled expression and knew that she'd have to explain. She looked over at Rinoa, and didn't see any reason why even if Rinoa was listening, she shouldn't hear this.

"Just look at what you're doing now, you're flying back to Garden mid-holiday! You're always at their beck and call. Of course I'm happy to spend time getting to know Rinoa, but it's not me she wants to be with, it's you."

Squall was silent. His sister had picked up on the one thing he'd been afraid of. How long could Rinoa put up with his unique job? It wasn't as if he could ever properly relax.

"El you know how difficult it is… but I'll try to be there more. I'll try."

Rinoa walked in the middle of Squall and Ellone as they made their way through the gates and through the Garden. Rinoa once again looked around at the odd set up of walkways over water, and wondered who had dreamt that up. She only paid attention to her immediate surroundings when she realised that they were no longer three, but four. She recognised the new addition as Quistis.

"Welcome back commander," she said saluting. "But seriously, there was really no need. I told Cid that I was happy to make the decision, but Caraway wasn't having it."

Rinoa's attention was caught now. Caraway? Did Quistis mean her father? She suddenly regretted not hammering it into her dad where she was, perhaps he wouldn't have insisted on speaking to Squall if he had known that he was out of the country. But he'd probably known anyway, Rinoa couldn't imagine that the SeeDs would have forgotten to mention it. Unless they weren't allowed to divulge Squall's location? She knew that if there were inquiries at the Galbadian military base, the answer was always that her father was there on the compound, even if he was on annual leave.

"I'll see him straight away," Squall said and Quistis stepped back, awaiting orders. "It might be best if you don't accompany me on this," added to both Rinoa and Ellone.

Rinoa was about to protest, but Ellone touched her arm to stop her.

"We'll go to the cafeteria," she said gently nudging Rinoa in that direction.

Rinoa looked over her shoulder as she walked away, and Squall saw the questioning look in her eyes, but he had no answer for her. All he could do was watch her walk away before following Quistis into what was undoubtedly going to be a hard day.

Rinoa left her suitcase at the entrance of the cafeteria, safely out of the way and joined the queue for food with Ellone. Ellone's case had been left on the airship, and Rinoa had wished she'd done the same now and collected it later, instead of dragging it around and it being a nuisance. But she'd been too afraid it'd be forgotten and the ship would be halfway around the world before she came to look for it. After paying, the two girls looked around for somewhere to sit. Rinoa scanned the room and then froze.

Selphie had been people watching out of boredom, until she realised she'd just met the surprised eyes of her best friend. She hadn't expected her to be back so soon. Slowly she raised her hand in order to wave her friend over. Rinoa walked over slowly, not noticing that she nearly walked into three people along the way. Her eyes were focused only on Selphie's clothes. She was wearing the same dark blue uniform as everyone else at the table.

"Hey, Rinoa… I was going to tell you… well I did try to tell you…" Selphie stopped speaking, stood and held her arms out so that Rinoa could better see her uniform. "Surprise!"

"What the hell Selphie?" Rinoa exclaimed too loudly. Her hysterical voice attracted attention from those around, including Zell who had been enjoying his lunch. He halfway stood from his seat, wondering if he was going to have to get involved in a cafeteria showdown. Sometimes he hated being a teacher.

Selphie smiled nervously at the faces turned towards her, and waited until everyone had declared her uninteresting and returned to their conversations.

"I joined SeeD," Selphie explained.

"I can see that," Rinoa said with disgust. "What were you thinking?"

"Hey!" Selphie said, her hands on her hips. "I joined because I wanted to, OK? And it's not as if you can talk, you're dating the Commander of this Garden, so don't get all 'fighting is bad' and blah blah…"

Rinoa's mouth fell open. She'd never argued with Selphie before, and she was scared that they had just blown a friendship. Now everyone was looking again, all wondering whether Selphie's comment was true.

"Is she really dating Leonhart?" someone with too much lip asked, a smirk on his face as if trying to tell all his friends what he thought of that. Ellone knew that while she was burning with anger at the cheek of the guy, Rinoa's face would be burning with embarrassment.

"Yeah, and I'm his sister," she said loudly, squaring up to the guy. "You got a problem?"

"No," he said in his most uninterested voice, and he returned to face his friends. Some people began to snigger, thinking that this confrontation was delving into the ridiculous.

"She's got a point," Ellone muttered returning back to Rinoa.

Rinoa slammed her tray down on the table, and took a seat, refusing to look at anyone. Ellone set her tray down also, and took the last free chair.

"Everything alright here?" Zell asked on his way back to the queue.

"Go away Zell," Rinoa snapped.

"OK," he said automatically and continued walking.

Selphie watched Zell walk away.

"Rinoa!" she said, not understanding why Rinoa was reacting in such a way. "What is your problem? You should apologise to Zell. Your dad might be still paying him a wage, but that doesn't mean you can treat him like crap. I'm going to my room, come and find me after you've stopped going nuts."

Rinoa knew she should say something, but even she couldn't understand why she had reacted in such a way. She couldn't even look at Selphie, since now that she was beginning to calm down, she was feeling embarrassed by her behaviour. She couldn't look at Ellone either, who probably now thought she was an irrational freak. But instead of turning her back, Ellone took pity. Although Rinoa's reaction might have been uncontrolled, at least it was honest. Life in SeeD was dangerous. She herself often wished that Squall were not a part of it. Under Rinoa's anger would be a under lying fear for her friend's safety, and if her friend stopped to think also, she'd see it too.

"I don't think you offended Zell…" Ellone said gently. Rinoa looked up with teary eyes. "Look, it hasn't put him off his food."

Rinoa smiled weakly, but knew that Ellone was only trying to make her feel better. Standing, she took hold of her tray. Her intention was to join Zell at his table, unless he returned the favour by telling her to get lost.

"I have to go say sorry… you can come too if you like… but I'll understand if you don't want to."