Author's note: Okay, you must be wondering if Seifer will ever find out about him being a daddee! Well, this chapter, and I'm thankful to say.... is the chapter. But there's a catch. What happens when another trouble is causing Galbadia and it has something to do with Quistis and her baby? Oh! There's a short childhood memory of Quistis and Seifer, told by Matron.


Chapter 3 - Leaning Towards Home



"SQUALL LEONHEART,RINOA HEARTILLY,SIEFER ALMASY,SELPHIE TILMITT AND ZELL DINCTH, PLEASE REPORT TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE," The PAC system boomed around the hallways of Garden and into the sleeping forms of the students. "I REPEAT, PLEASE REPORT TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE."

"What the fuck?!" Seifer fell out of his bed once Xu's voice filled his head. He glanced at his watch and read that it was five minutes to nine in the morning. He glared towards the PAC system that was now attached to the wall of his room. Cid had thought of the idea. The Headmaster was flustered every time the students arrived late in class that he built the system above the heads of the students to wake them up. It was working, considering Seifer was able to jump higher this time from his bed. "Stupid Garden rules" he grumbled, insulting the voice on the system. His hair was messed up from sleep and the nightmares that has started after him and Quistis decided to avoid each other at all cost after what happened between them that night a week ago. Sloppily, he put on a blue shirt and black pants. He combed his hair quickly, seeing how Cid was tight about his SeeDs being late for a meeting and left his room without a word towards his room mate, who was sleeping like a baby on his bed.


****************

Quistis knocked on the door to the place she has learned to grow up in. She shifted her suitcase to her other hand and waited for someone to answer the door. Another second and a woman with long dark hair finally answered, smiling as she noticed Quistis standing there waiting patiently and her growing belly with the baby inside.

"Hi sweetheart! My, are you early!" Matron greeted, wrapping her arms lovingly around Quistis.

Quistis wrapped her arms in return. "Good morning Matron!" Once she let go, she said, "Yeah, I am early aren't I?"

Matron laughed. "I'm not surprised. Little Quistis was always on time, never tardy for her dinner or for the game nights we had."

Quistis looked at her, trying to remember exactly who she was then. "I'm sorry, Matron," she apologized, looking at Matron with an innocent look. Matron opened the door for her and she stepped in without saying another word.

"Why are you sorry, my little Quisty?" Matron said, as she led Quistis to her bedroom. She opened the door and stepped aside so Quistis could see the room she made for her convenience.

"I'm sorry because I don't remember anything about my childhood." The blond young woman looked around, trying to remember exactly who's room this was. Her eyes came upon a vanity table with a silver picture frame that looked old, yet still had the shine to it. She put down her suitcase and walked over to the frame. Picking it up, she noticed a picture of six kids smiling.

"Maybe this picture will help you," Matron said from behind her.

Quistis glanced over her shoulder, looking at the older woman confusingly. She turned her head back to the picture, noticing a blond girl sitting next to a smirking blond boy. Next to him sat a brunette, cross legged and frowning. Quistis immediately recognized Squall. Another blond boy sat next to the other side of Squall. Zell had one arm around Selphie's shoulders, while Selphie gave a piece sign with her small fingers. Irvine was the only one standing, with his arms folded across his chest and with a goofy smile. She turned her eyes back to the two blonds sitting side by side. She recognized herself, long blond hair and innocent blue eyes that sparkled then. Now, she barely recognized her older self. She didn't see the sparkle in her eyes anymore. She saw only a lonely soul trying desperately to get out into the open. She noticed a flower, a lilly maybe, tied around her neck with a small string. She looked at Matron with a questionable stare.

"Matron.... what's this flower here?"

The woman glanced at the picture. "The flower? Why... Seifer gave that to you. I have it with me."

"You... you do? I don't remember Seifer giving this to me."

"Ah, but you don't remember that you and Seifer kissed for the first time on the beach did you?"

Quistis' eyes widened. "We- we did?"

"Yes, my angel." Matron reached out and touched her golden tresses that hung at the side of her face and curled it behind her ear. "You were only... ten I think. I watched you both from afar, but I can read what you two were saying. Everyone else was playing on the other side, while you and Seifer sat on a log and talked for hours before you had to leave to be trained in Garden."

"Really?"

Matron nodded, sitting on the bed. She patted the bed beside her and Quistis sat down.

****************

"Quisty?" A little blond boy shifted his gaze from the sleeping sun and into the hazel eyes of a little blond girl with hair much more golden yellow than his. His was golden brown. Then, Quistis' eyes were hazel.

Quistis looked up, smiling. "What is it Seify?"

Seifer shyly turned away. "Um.... I have something for you."

"For me? Why?"

Seifer shrugged. "I dunno. I wanted to give something to you before you leave to go to Garden."

Quistis blinked. "You didn't have to Seify...."

Seifer waved a hand in front of him insistently. He removed his arm that was hiding behind his back and produced a flower attached to a small thread. It was a white flower with tear-dropped like petals. Quistis' eyes glowed in surprise, taking the necklace from him and staring at it. She looked at Seifer.

"You made this Seify?" Quistis asked, playing with the string with her fingers.

Seifer nodded. "Yeah...." he replied shyly. "I... I care for you," he said.

The blond girl smiled. "I care for you too." She put the necklace around her neck and tied it behind her. "This is pretty! Thank you!" She leaned towards him and kissed him on the cheek.

Seifer blushed furiously. "You welcome." He looked at her, who was now watching the sun go down. Slowly, Seifer leaned towards her to give her another kiss on the cheek, but as she turned back to glance at him their lips met. Seifer didn't see that coming. Neither did Quistis. Their lips lingered for a moment until their faces turned a crimson red. Embarrassed, they quickly let go and stared at each other for a moment. None of them said anything after that, instead they sat beside each other, gazing at the sun, ready to hide behind the moon.

"Hey, you guys! Dinner!" Matron called from afar.

Quistis looked up, waving a hand at their beloved Matron. "We're coming, Matron!" she replied. She looked at Seifer. "I'll race ya!" she exclaimed, forgetting about the kiss, but keeping it in her heart and promised to herself she would keep it forever.

Their first kiss.

Seifer smiled, also forgetting about what happened, but he will always remember that one time their first kiss appeared between them. "Okay!" he replied.

Quistis laughed, dashing suddenly pass him.

"Hey! No fair!" Seifer yelled after her as he ran to catch up.


**************

Seifer walked towards the office. He opened the door roughly and wandered his eyes towards the crew. Everyone was here, except for Quistis, but he chose not to question. Squall stood beside Rinoa, her arms linked with his. Zell and Selphie sat beside each other on the couch on the far side of the room while Irvine had his hat tilted so it covered his face and had his back leaned against the wall beside the sitting couple. He saluted Cid. Cid replied with the same salut and Seifer stepped back to sit down on the chair in front of Cid's desk. Before Cid started talking, Selphie looked up.

"Excuse me, Master Cid?" Cid leaned on the front of his desk and nodded towards the young brunette woman.

"Yes, Selphie?"

"Uh..." Selphie looked around the crew, then glanced her way back towards the Headmaster."Where's Quistis?"

Cid cleared his throat, not really sure what to say. "Well... she's on vacation right now," he lied.

Seifer stared at Cid's reaction to the question. There was something Cid wasn't telling them. Where was Quistis after all? Not that he cared. He leaned back on his chair and sighed. "Can you stop with the third degree questions already and tell us what we're doing here?!" Seifer said, closed to being annoyed.

Cid cleared his throat again, thanking Seifer in his head for his impatience and saving him the time to tell the SeeDs about Quistis' whereabouts. He adjusted his glasses coolly up higher at his nose and took a deep breath."There has been reports from Galbadia about another leader taking over."

"So?" Seifer leaned forward, staring up at Cid.

Squall glared at Seifer and took the opportunity to nod back at Cid to continue.

"Well..." Cid began again. "We believe she is another Sorceress born from the followers of Ultimaecia and preferrably Edea. Ultimaecia has mated to several men to keep her legacy alive, or also believed to kidnap infants, noticibly girls, to raise them as powerful Sorceresses."

"Wait a minute. How come this was never reported before we started battling Ultimaecia?" Squall asked, standing in his thinking position.

"It wasn't known then, until now. We had reports from SeeDs who investigated this. Until a week ago, many children that are born as girls, disappeared from all over the world. No one knew that they were all connected in one kidnapping. The new Sorceress is planning to liberate a new Galbadia and use the army to rebell against all Garden. Now, we're not sure if the babies are in the new Sorceress' hands, that's why I want some of you to investigate whether this is true, while the rest, talk to Laguna in Esthar and Martine in Neo-Galbadia about the rebellion."

All heads nodded. Cid looked around, trying to figure out who to go with who and who would do what. He wasn't even sure who are the two leaders, but he settled to two people that is cut out for the job.

"Squall and Seifer... you both be the leaders. This missions is very important to the whole world, so please don't fail. Squall and his party will go to Galbadia, riding a train. We don't want to be obvious, so there will be no riding in the Ragnarok. Seifer and his party will ride on it. They are to leave tomorrow. That is if the situation is crucial, then they leave today. They will go to Esthar and then to Neo-Trabia. Xu will give you the mission at the front gate. With Squall, will be Rinoa and Irvine. Zell and Selphie, you go with Seifer. I need two people to ride the Ragnarok. Nida is too busy. Are there any questions?"

No one said anything.

"Good. Dismissed," Cid said, turning around to sit back on his desk.

Everyone filed out of the room. Squall was the first to leave, followed by Rinoa, Irvine, Selphie and then Zell. Seifer was the last to leave. As he was about to head out the door, Seifer was stopped by Cid's voice calling him.

Seifer turned around. "Yes, sir?"

Cid stood up. "I suggest you go to the orphanage and check on her."

"On who?" Seifer walked closer, giving him a suspicious look. "Who are you talking about?"

"I take it, she hasn't told you?"

"Told me what?!" Seifer was getting impatient. "What's going on here?"

"If you want to know who I'm talking about, I suggest you go to the orphanage and see for yourself."

Seifer was about to say something, but Cid just waved a hand and dismissed him again. Seifer clenched his fist, irritated by Cid's coyness and left the room grumbling.

****************

Quistis helped out around the house, while Matron left to go shopping for clothes for the new orphaned kids. She mopped the floors, dusted the furniture and kept the kids from doing anything foolish. After all that, she grew weary and wanted to sleep all day on her new bed. It was nice to rest without any banging from the next room.The blond teenager sat down on one of the sofas of the living room. She cradled a little baby girl in her arms, humming a song.

So this is what it feels like to be a mother, she thought softly.

She looked down on the green eyes of a brunette girl and laughed. The baby girl reminded her so much of Rinoa. The way she scrunched her nose when she was annoyed or did something rational. Her hair was lighter and bouncy, which also reminded her of Selphie. Her eyes was the only feature that reminded her of someone she wished was here right now. The eyes were like his, sparkling with a beautiful emerald green.

Crack!

Quistis was startled by a cracking noise. She looked up and noticed a woman with long dark hair by the window. Thinking it was Matron, she stood up, put the baby in the cradle and opened the door. She gave her a smile, but suddenly frowned when she noticed that it wasn't Matron. It was someone else. She felt an evil presence around her. She didn't know how, but she felt it. The woman turned around, an evil smile showed in her face.

"Hello!" the woman greeted. "I'm here to pick up my daughter."

Quistis lookd at her suspiciously. "Excuse me? Um... I'm sorry, this isn't the daycare center. This is the orphanage."

The woman's face suddenly frowned. Her eyes glowed a deep dark red. "I said, I'm here to pick up my daughter!" she yelled louder.

Quistis screamed. As the light grew brighter, he screams grew more intense and painful in the children's ears. They all cried together, watching as Quistis fell on her knees, putting small fingers on each side of her temples, whimpering. Her eyes were blinded in darkness as she fell down to sleep.

The woman kneeled down, placing two fingers in the base of her belly where the baby was growing and chanted some words none of the children could understand, even the older ones. She stared at the children and stared at the baby inside the crib, sleeping soundly in her bed. She smiled and with her bony arms, she picked up the baby gently and disappeared.



Author's note: Oh no! What could this possibly mean? Find out on the next chapter! Hee hee! Please r/r!