Heartbeats can be savored, certain events in our lives can hang suspended in time, and so much can happen in a split second you would think a century had gone by. But it is those moments in our lives without a sense of time, without a sense of anything, even without the sense of our own aching heartbeats, that will haunt and plague our memories until the day we die.

Rinoa had lost all awareness of her surroundings, all sense of place, or time, or anything that was real. All she knew was that she ran, on and on, past the blur of images, seeming to move in slow motion, as if she would never reach her final destination.

She had sprinted from the Ragnorok the second it touched down, and no amount of fatigue could have stopped her before she reached the Infirmary. Laguna, Zell, Irvine, and Seifer were all there, and just as she reached them, Dr. Kadowaki was coming out of one of the small rooms.

"Dr. Kadowaki!" she cried out, nearly running the woman over as she came to a stop. "What's happened? Is Squall alright? Is he going to be okay? What--"

"Calm down, dear." the doctor soothed, grasping Rinoa's shoulders to restrain her. "I'll tell you what I can, but I think you'd better sit down for this,"

Dr. Kadowaki tried to lead Rinoa over to one of the chairs, but she wouldn't budge. "Not until you tell me what's going on!"

Quistis, Selphie, and President Caraway had finally caught up, and were just coming through the Infirmary doors.

Seeing that nearly everyone was now there, the doctor sighed hopelessly, releasing Rinoa's shoulders, and turned away from them all. "I wish things were different," she stated softly. "But I'm afraid Squall's condition has...accelerated."

Everyone was taken aback, but Rinoa persisted on. "What do you mean? Accelerated? You said he had a year!"

The doctor turned back to her. "I'm so sorry, Rinoa," she said genuinely. "What I said was that this syndrome was unpredictable. All signs showed that he did have about a year, but now...now he may not last even a few days..."

The others looked to each other, lost, but Rinoa shook her head fiercely, tears of anger and tortured pain springing to her velvet, brown eyes. "But...you said he had a year!" she screamed, pounding her fists against the doctor clumsily, "Give me back that year! Give it back! You said...you said..." She sobbed furiously, mumbling to herself over that unfairly lost year.

Her father came forward then, pulling her from the helpless doctor, and Rinoa melted into his loving embrace. "Shhh, darling. Somehow it'll be alright," he comforted. "Somehow..."

"Doctor..." Quistis began, stepping forward. "Is he awake? Can we see him?"

They all looked to her longingly, clinging to whatever hope they might find.

"Yes...but he's very weak," she answered, "Try not to excite him too much, he doesn't have much time." She stepped away from the door, and they began to file in, Rinoa and her father last as she continued to cling to his side.

-----

"Hey there, sport," Laguna began with a false smile. "You must really love this place if you keep finding your way back,"

Squall looked up at him from the tiny bed with clouded eyes, smiling as best he could. The change in him already was far too apparent. His face was chalk white, his eyes without their usual spark, and his hair was damp from sweat. He had changed a lifetime in less than an hour.

"...hey...what can I say...the beds are comfortable...and I get...first dibs at the cafeteria's hot-dogs..." Squall replied weakly, trying humor to lighten the dark mood.

The others settled in around the room, Rinoa sitting close to him on one side, and Laguna on the other.

"So..." Rinoa tried, brushing the hair from Squall's eyes as tears still clung to hers, "...how...how are you doing?"

Squall reached up a trembling hand to stroke her face. "...better...with you here..."

Rinoa felt her heart breaking, and it just killed her that there was nothing she could do, nothing that could save the man she loved.

A heaviness filled the air, and no one knew quite what to say.

"What do we do now?" Selphie sobbed.

"...I guess..." Squall began somberly, biting back his own tears, "...I guess we say...goodbye..."

Rinoa clung to Squall's chest, submitting to her anguished tears, and the others...they were silently cursing fate for being so unbelievably cruel.

"Let's not think of this as saying goodbye..." Laguna put in, grasping his son's hand. "Let's think of this as a time to let Squall know how much he means to all of us,"

The broken-hearted onlookers agreed, and Rinoa managed to lift her head in approval as well.

"Good," Laguna smiled. "Then let me start by saying...I love you, Squall. I am so proud that you are my son, and this past year with you has been the best time in my life. I just wish..." He had to turn his head away. "...I just wish I had been there. I wish we could have more time now to make up for all the times you had to be alone..."

Squall reached out a hand and placed it on his father's shoulder.

Laguna turned back to him, though he had trouble accepting what he saw lying in that bed. His son, dead and dying by the minute.

"...I don't blame you for anything..." Squall began. "...I don't regret anything. I am happy with...what time we did get...to share...and I...I love you...and I'm proud that you're my father..."

Laguna dropped to his knees, leaning closer to the bed so that he could pull his son to him. Squall buried his head in his father's chest, tears streaking down his face, and Laguna kissed Squall's forehead with trembling lips, wishing beyond everything that time could stop, so that they could remain there in that moment.

It was hard for Laguna to let Squall go, not just out of their embrace, but out of his life forever.

Laguna eased Squall back down into the bed, wiping his son's tears away with a gentle touch. He looked behind him then, at the petite young woman in her sunshine, yellow dress, who's face was for once without its rays of sunshine to compliment her common apparel.

"Me?" Selphie asked meekly. Laguna nodded with a smile, stepping aside so that she could come closer to the bed.

She took meager steps at first, as if unsure of her footing, but once she was about a step from the bed, she suddenly pounced, flinging her arms about Squall's neck and squeezing him tight.

"Oh, Squall!" she cried. "I just love you so much. You're like a big brother, always looking out for me. What am I supposed to do without you?"

Squall squeezed back, with what strength he had, and smiled. "...you'll be fine...Selph...I know you will," Squall whispered. "...you have to...get ready for that...Garden Festival...right? And...keep taking care of those...younger classmen...and...make sure Irvine stays out of trouble...will ya?"

She laughed a little. "I will! I promise," she answered. "But...I'm gonna miss you so much!" She pulled away from him a little to look into his misted, blue eyes, her little arms still clasped around his neck.

"...I'll miss you, too..." he said, sniffling back his tears. "...I'll always love you...Selphie...my little sister..." He gently stroked her face as she nodded somberly, carefully releasing him and moving back away from the bed.

Irvine stepped forward next, taking his hat off as he did. "Gee, mate, I don't know what to say," he smiled apologetically. "We've known each other just over a year now, but I think of you as one of the closest friends I've ever had." Irvine cringed a bit from the thought of losing that close friend, blinking his watery eyes in an attempt to keep them dry.

"...just promise me...you'll get that instructor's license," Squall replied. Then, with a sly smile, "...that you won't make any...moves...on your female students...and...that you'll take care of Selphie...for me..."

Irvine gave a short laugh, grinning. "With pleasure," he extended his hand, and Squall grasped it as firmly as he could. But, before they could shake, Irvine knelt down a bit, and having hold of Squall's hand, pulled him in for a hug. It was sharp and quick, but affective, and as Irvine stepped back, the torch passed on again.

"Dammit, Squall. Why do ya have to do this to me?" Zell whimpered, not trying in the least to hold back his tears. "We're buddies. Brothers. We're supposed to get wrinkly and grey together, driving the young SeeDs nuts with our old war stories, remember?"

Squall laughed a little. "...I know...Zell...I wish I was going to be there with you...but...you have to do something for me now..."

"Anything!" Zell replied. "You know that."

Squall smiled. "...I need you to...take care of the Garden now...as SeeD Commander..."

Zell jumped back. "Me?!" he shouted, "You want me to take over for ya?"

"Of course. I'm sure...Quistis...can keep you in line..." Squall replied, smiling.

"I don't know. Filling your shoes is gonna be tough..." Zell stood a little taller, scratching his head in thought. "Hmmm...SeeD Commander Dincht..."

"...don't...let it go to your head now...Zell..." Squall teased.

Zell blushed a little, coming closer to the bed. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I won't let ya down," he said. "And...oh...we're gonna miss ya!" Zell pounced on Squall then, much as Selphie had. "I love ya, man!"

Squall had to laugh. "...I love you, too...Zell..."

Zell rubbed at his eyes as he moved back, not at all ashamed for expressing his feelings.

It was Quistis who came forward next. She tried to remain collected as she made her way to the bed, but as she reached Squall, she collapsed there beside him, crying into her hands.

Squall reached over the side of the bed, lifting her up gently from the floor, and enfolded her in his arms. "...dear Quistis..." Squall soothed. "...I've hurt you the most...and yet...you've meant so much to me all these years..."

"Oh , Squall, you haven't hur--"

"Yes...I have..." he cut her off. "...you've always known me...even better than I know...myself, but I...always pushed you away. I was so cruel..."

"It didn't bother me that much...really," she lied. "I'll always love you, Squall, as a brother, as I always have,"

Squall carefully lifted her from him, looking into her sapphire eyes glittering with tears. "...I'll always love you, too...Quisty...always..." he whispered, brushing away her tears. "...just do...a few things for me...will you....?" She nodded fiercely. "...be Zell's right hand...and...let me hear you say...just once...that you forgive me..."

Quistis clenched her eyes shut from the pain in her heart, laying her head on Squall's chest. "...I forgive you...Squall...a million times over I do,"

Squall closed his eyes, a new peace in his heart finally settling in, as it should have long ago. He stroked Quistis' hair lovingly. She was so much more than a sister...

Seifer walked over to them, placing his hand on Quistis' shoulder. She opened her eyes, and nodded as she saw him standing there. Lifting herself from the bed, she remained close by Seifer's side as he now took his turn.

"...Seifer..." Squall began.

"No," Seifer interrupted. "I'm going first this time,"

He knelt down next to the bed, looking Squall straight in the face with his sad, turquoise eyes.

"We were never friends," he began. "We've been rivals since we were kids, and as much as I hate to admit it, it's all because of me. Because you were better than me at everything, and I couldn't stand it. I just had to beat you. Any chance I could get, I had to." he sighed heavily. "And what did it all get me? Just the sorceresses lap dog, right? Dammit! If I just would have done a million things differently, maybe none of that mess two years ago would have gotten as far as it did! Maybe you wouldn't be here like this right now..." Seifer brought his hand up to his face, rubbing at the tears so desperate to fall.

Squall reached over and grabbed Seifer's other hand firmly, causing Seifer to look back up, his eyes red-rimmed and suffering. "...this is not your fault...Seifer..." Squall stated sharply, his eyes stern and serious. "...I hate those days just as much as you do...but it wasn't only you to blame. Don't regret anything...it's not worth it...it doesn't matter. What matters is that we're here...now...and I hold nothing against you. I'd..." he stopped, unsure of his next statement. "...I forgive you if you forgive me. I'd...call you friend if you'd do the same for me..."

Seifer squeezed Squall's hand in reply, smiling his rare, genuine smile. "Forgiven, and friend. Nothing could be easier,"

"...forgiven...and friend..." Squall repeated, smiling as well. "...now there's just one thing I have left to ask of you..."

"Anything," Seifer replied.

Squall motioned him closer, so that he could whisper into Seifer's ear. "...If you ever hurt Quistis in any way..." Squall said softly, "...I'm going to come back from the grave...and kill you..."

Seifer jerked away, his face pale, and he laughed nervously, thinking Squall had meant it as a joke.

Squall didn't look too amused.

Seifer cleared his throat awkwardly then, leaning closer to Squall again to whisper in his ear. "Don't worry about that," he said. "I love her. I honestly do. I'd never dream of hurting her. That's a promise."

Squall was smiling this time when Seifer pulled away. He knew this was one promise from Seifer Almasy that he could definitely count on.

"Well, now," President Caraway began, looking about the room. "I think this may be our cue to leave," He indicated his daughter, still clinging closely by Squall's side.

The others whole-heatedly agreed, making their way out of the room. When it was only Rinoa and her father left, Caraway stepped close to Squall, and took hold of his hand.

"I wish we had been given more time to know each other, my boy," he said sincerely. "You're everything to my daughter, and I thank you for being part of why she found her way back to me." He released Squall's hand, bending down to kiss Rinoa softly on her tear-stained cheeks.

When he left, Squall and Rinoa were alone.

-----

The meaning of life can be disputed over again and again. There are a million theories and a million arguments, but in the end, one simple word is a huge part of the answer. Love. There is love that we have for our friends, our family, whatever God or gods we may believe in, our world, our belongings, but most importantly, our true loves. That one special person in our life that means everything to us. If we wouldn't risk our lives for anyone else, we would risk our lives for them. They are the reason we breathe. But those of us lucky enough to find our one, true love, may be the most unlucky of all.

At least at that moment when we must say goodbye.

Rinoa and Squall hadn't spoken a word to each other since Caraway left. Rinoa had simply crawled into the tiny bed next to Squall, and they held each other, Rinoa clutching Squall's chest as he stroked her raven hair.

(What do I say to her...?) Squall thought desperately. (I found the words to say to the others, somehow, but what can I say to her? 'I love you, I need you, I wish I wasn't about to die and leave you forever,' ?) He closed his eyes in despair. (I guess all I can do is try...)

"Rinoa...?" he whispered.

"...yes...?"

"...I love you..." he said passionately. "...I love you so much that I...find it hard to breathe...sometimes...that I...can't stand one moment away from you...that I wish..."

"...you weren't about to leave me..." she finished for him.

A tear traveled down his cheek. "...I'm so sorry...Rinoa...I am so sorry..."

She lifted her head, looking up at him. "Would you rather we hadn't met at all, so that this wouldn't hurt so much now...?"

"Never!" he answered, cupping her chin in his hand. "...never...I'd live through any amount of pain if I had to...anything...as long as I still got to fall in love with you..."

She smiled past her falling tears, resting her head on his chest again. "Thank you, Squall. That's all I needed to hear," she said. "As long as I can hold you now, in this moment, I can face anything,"

"...I just want...I just want to be with you...always..." he whispered.

"So do I," she replied. "And...there is something else I want..."

"...what is it...?"

Rinoa lifted her head from his chest again, sitting herself up. Squall watched, confused, as she brought her hands behind her neck, and began to unclasp her necklace. When she had gotten it off, she slipped Squall's old Griever ring off the chain, setting the rest of the necklace on the table beside the bed.

"...I don't understand..." Squall stated, not sure what she meant to do.

Rinoa smiled, grasping Squall's left hand in hers, as she slipped Griever onto his ring finger. "Marry me..." she said, breathless.

Squall was dumbfounded, awestruck, and thrilled beyond belief.

"If you're going to leave me..." Rinoa continued. "...then it's going to be as my husband. I can't imagine going on without that. Will you? Will you, Squall?"

His face lit up, his eyes sparkling with a bit of their lost life. "In a heartbeat, yes! Of course!"

Rinoa jumped into his arms, both their hearts aflame with love and passion for one another.

"...we'll...we'll have to act right away...I don't..." Squall started.

"I know, I know," Rinoa interrupted. "Right away! As soon as we call the others back. Edea can do the ceremony. She'd never forgive us if we didn't give her the honor,"

Squall pulled Rinoa from him a little. "...what about a ring for you...?"

Rinoa just smiled. "Covered," she stated simply. She reached into her pocket, producing an identical Griever ring, besides being a few sizes smaller. "I had Zell make this for me over a year ago," she blushed. "I never wore it since you gave me yours, but I knew it would come in handy,"

Squall smiled, taking the ring from Rinoa. He carefully lifted her left hand, and slipped it gently on her finger. "...I love you...my angel..."

"I love you, my lion,"

They kissed passionately, with their whole hearts behind it. For a moment, reality was left in the dust, and fantasy gave two lovers hope.

tbc...

A/N: (takes a big breath) That was the most difficult part for me to write so far. I truly hope you loved it. As for what's next, it's still not known if and/or when Squall is going to die. Well, your questions will be answered in the next, and last, part. Bear with me, and please review!