Author's Notes:

I feel so good you guys are still reading my work. Anyway, as for my promise, this chapter has more substance

(I hope!… and what the hell do I mean by that? ^_^; ehehe…). So sorry for the overly lengthy waiting period. I got stuck in the middle and didn't have any idea what to go about next till now. Hope you enjoy the chapter!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own FF8. A great loss for Squaresoft. *_* Well, at least I own cute little Seany-pooh! Anybody want to baby-sit him for a while? Can't get to work with him always drooling over the keyboard! But I love him anyways! *cuddles chibi baby Sean*

==== denote a flashback / recall

~~~~ denote a change of scene

italics denote a thought

U n b e l o v e d

By: g3ozLizh

Chapter Three

The swinging door opened and a doctor appeared. He looked grim as he raised his head to meet the expectant faces of the patient's closest friends.

Quistis grasped Zell's arm for support as she waited in abated breath. The latter doesn't seem to notice the pressure on his arm for he too was scared of the results.

Irvine… Irvine had to go lean on the wall. He clenched his fist around Selphie's bracelet so tightly that the gold flat tiny hearts dug painfully into his palm.

But no pain can be compared to what the doctor was about to say.

"Mrs. Selphie Kinneas have amnesia." The doctor seems to be hesitant to say the next words. "The worst kind."

Irvine felt like a big blow hit him right there on the stomach, sucking the life out of him.

Quistis gasped and leaned her forehead on Zell's shoulder, closing her eyes painfully.

Zell just stood there. Dumbstruck, mouth agape.

When Irvine felt like he could breath again, he asked the very first thing that came to his mind. "Is she gonna regain her memory back? For how long?"

The doctor was silent for a moment. "We don't know for sure. It depends upon the situations she will be in after this. I would say the least is a year, even more than that." He bowed his head. "I'm sorry. I have to attend to another patient. Please excuse me."

Before the doctor can turn his back, Irvine spoke out. "Wait… Can I --- can we go see her?" He was hopeful… no, he was desperate.

Quistis momentarily stopped holding back the tears and a single drop fell as she looked up, her eyes also questioning, pleading.

The doctor gave them a sympathetic smile. "Yes, but not right now."

Irvine's face fell. Quistis looked away, as if she was really going to cry now. The usually calm instructor gave in to her emotions. Zell placed his arm on her shoulders, soothing her.

Quistis took in a shaky breath to compose herself. Her instructor's voice was back though wavering a bit. "I think it would be best if we go out of this somber place for awhile."

When Irvine began to sit down, thinking that he isn't included, Quistis spoke up, "You too, Irvine." She looked sternly at him and added before he could say anything, "No exceptions." Seeing the look of hopelessness and sadness on her friend's face, her voice softened, "Besides, the fresh air would do you good."

Slowly, reluctantly, Irvine agreed, "Fine."

Quistis smiled sadly as he straightened up. "C'mon then." She turned around, leading the way.

Before Zell followed, he shot Irvine one last odious look while the latter stared at the ground, too preoccupied to feel sense the tension Zell has been building up.

=====

As they settled themselves outside the hospital building, Quistis took the initiative to clear things up and maybe get some answers from Irvine as to why this happened.

Quistis walked towards him, stopping at his side to look at him in the eye though Irvine eluded her. "Irvine, I know this isn't probably the best time to ask questions but… we're your friends and Selphie's… We're here to help." She eyed him searchingly.

"Yeah," Zell's voice was in a growl, arms crossed in front while leaning against a wall. "What happened?"

Irvine walked away from Quistis and for a moment just stood there, gazing up the sky. After a few moments of silence, he spoke up. No sense in beating behind the bush…

"I…," he stuffed a hand on his pocket while the other brushed back the bangs from his forehead. "I slept with another woman." He didn't dare look at them but he could feel, almost as if he perceived it, Quistis stiffen in shock and Zell's raging reaction.

"You WHAT?!"

"Irvine…"

In a flash, Zell closed the distance between him and Irvine and connected his fist to his jaw.

"Zell!" Quistis pulled on his am, trying to keep him away from Irvine.

Irvine just merely wiped a trickle of blood on the edge of his mouth with a finger, looking at Zell with a blank expression.

"You ass!!! How dare you do that to her??? And to think that she had been loyal to you all this time!"

Quistis used all her strength to restrain her out-of-control friend. "Zell, please stop," she pleaded, looking from him to Irvine who didn't say anything.

"No, Quistis! I've done enough keeping my mouth shut. All this time, I tried to keep at bay my feelings for Selphie and all of you know how I felt for her! I did that knowing I would destroy her peace and happiness if I did. But after what you've done to her… I've had enough!!!"

"Zell, please!" Quistis held on to his shoulders. "Let's not make this any worse than it is."

"You think that if I don't do anything now, the situation wouldn't be bad? Hell, he's just going to do it again! Somebody's gonna have to put him in his place!!!"

"I agree with you. But violence isn't the only option to accomplish that," Quistis looked into the eyes of Zell, hoping to calm him down.

"No, Quistis. Let him do what he wants to do."

Both stopped to stare at Irvine who had finally spoke up.

"Irvine…"

"You bet I will! And I don't need you to agree with that. Either way, I would have punched you still!"

He gazed at Quistis with sad, remorseful eyes. "I deserve it, Quis." He looked down and turned around. "And I don't deserve Selphie…"

"Irvine, you can't say that…"

"You're right because in the first place, he doesn't really deserve her."

Quistis turned to glare at Zell. "Zell, stop that! We know he's wrong but…" she looked down. "Only Selphie can really tell us that."

They seem to be thinking the same thought: If Selphie survives through all these.

Silence, once again, became dominant, each in their own thoughts. Finally, Irvine turned around and started walking towards the hospital's parking lot.

"I need to be alone right now… "

"Where are you going?" Quistis asked, concerned.

Irvine didn't answer and Quistis didn't bother to ask him again.

She looked at Zell. "We better go home ourselves. We can't do anything for Selphie right now. We need to rest, for tomorrow."

Zell nodded silently, tired from all that had happened.

=====

Squall and Rinoa walked in silence towards their dormitory room. Squall was ahead with the portable baby cradle and Rinoa only a step behind, carrying the sleeping baby Sean whose head rested on her shoulder, sucking his chubby little thumb.

Squall pushed the card key into the security lock system and the door buzzed open. The automatic light temporarily blinded Rinoa but she only have to blink once and her eyes adjusted to the brightness.

As the door zoomed close behind her, Squall said, "You and the baby take the bed. I'll go take the couch." He crossed the room without waiting for her answer. As usual.

Rinoa blinked again, not sure if she heard him right. She didn't budge from her position and was about to ask him to repeat what he had said but didn't find the need to when Squall settled himself on the coach, taking his jacket off as he did so. She decided not to ask him for his motivation or intention. Was he forced to or maybe he has a soft spot for babies after all? Rinoa smiled at the latter.

Eyeing her from across the room, he asked, "Did you forget something in the car?"

Realizing that she had not moved and a wearing stupid expression on her face, she hastily shook her head, smiled a bit and replied, "No." She walked towards the queen-sized bed and gently laid the baby down on the center. She placed pillows on both sides of the one-year and six-month old boy. As she got off to smile down at the slumbering angel, she realized that there was enough space on the bed for both Squall and her to sleep on.

Looking up, she suggested, "Why not sleep on the bed? We have more than enough space."

"No. I'm fine here," came the laconic reply.

She frowned slightly. Then, maybe not. Rinoa erased any hopeful thinking that her boyfriend might actually have a soft spot for babies. Maybe the reason he doesn't want to sleep on the bed was because he didn't want to sleep beside a baby. She sighed in resignation at the thought.

Granted that they do get married, will Squall want to have a baby of their own? Rinoa knotted her brows in affirmation. Of course, he will. He may just be feeling uneasy around others' kids but once he gets to hold our own li'l angel, he'll loosen up. Eased by the thought, she stopped worrying.

Worn-out by the day's events, both immediately went to sleep as soon as they changed into more comfortable clothing. But not before giving each other a good night kiss on the lips. Fleeting yet sweet. Yup. They might as well be married but that's as far as they go to showing each other affection. Rinoa's not complaining (not that much) though. She knew that this is as much as Squall can go on the love department, being the introvert that he is.

And at times, I am sure that that's what drew me to him… there's an air of mystery in him that I'm still on the process of discovering. She languidly opened her eyes as he drew back and they held each other's gazes for a few lingering seconds before Squall turned and walked towards the coach.

She sighed inwardly as she settled on the bed and cuddled deeper beneath the blankets. Watching the rhythmical rise and fall of Sean's chest, like a lullaby, lulled her to sleep.

Author's Notes: PLEASE READ. VERY IMPORTANT! INVOLVES THE INTRICATE LOVE LIFE OF SQUALL & RINOA, AND THE IRVINE-SELPHIE-ZELL LOVE TRIANGLE. YOUR INPUT IS GREATLY NEEDED!!! ^_^

Squall & Rinoa:

Hey, you guys. Just one question: You think Squall and Rinoa would have taken advantage of the opportunity of them sleeping together and did "it" even outside marriage? I mean, Squall's always been a stickler (?) for stuff like that and always playing by the rules and rarely goes out to have fun or fulfill a little satisfaction. For Rinoa, I can picture her out not having second thoughts with the idea of them sleeping together. You think she and Seifer already did it? Nah! That's too far off. She may be outgoing and loud at times but she isn't that kinda girl. So, guys, whaddya think? Have they done it or not? Figuring the years they've been together, it's most probable that they've done it but I want to know your opinion on the subject too. ^_^

Irvine-Selphie-Zell:

And is there any of you out there who knows a little more about amnesia than I do? Those basic information, perhaps? One that might make Selphie's condition less vague. Please leave in on the review section ^_^. I really need it.

As for Zell, I hope I didn't make him appear… super out of character. I mean, he does have a reason for wanting to hate Irvine. He did have feelings for Selphie after all and judging from his latest reaction, it seems that he still does.

As always, a review from you guys never ceases to make me happy so keep 'em coming!

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