Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1
Staying Strong
Chapter Six
"Stupid train!" Selphie shouted, jumping up and down. Zell, for once controlled his temper and emotions, though the strain of this showed clearly on his face. The strain of controlling his growing temper, fuelled with upset and fury, was turning Zell's face bright red. The train had broken down half way to Deling and it had been stationary for the past few hours.
Selphie kicked the train. She had never felt this angry in her life. Two years ago she would have told herself that everything would be fine. As long as people stay happy, don't think bad thoughts and hope for the best, nothing will go wrong. After two years though, she had changed. Everybody had changed, even Zell. They had all grown up. Quistis was twenty and everyone else was nineteen, apart from Ellone, but she wasn't a SeeD or someone with military knowledge. Frowning slightly, Selphie began to think happy thoughts.
This time next month, I'll be bridesmaid for Rinoa and Squall and they'll be married. Everything will be happy and....no one will be this sad. I hate being so sad! It was different two years ago we were; now we're so close, we love each other, some more then others! That is what makes it harder for me. I can't bear to think of Squall dying, I don't love him like Rinoa...What if it was Irvine? That isn't worth thinking about. Stop thinking! You're only making it worse for yourself! Love and friendship are both so close together, I love Irvine, yes, I know that. It had taken me a long time to realize that, but I'm older now, I can see. I love Squall too, but I love him the same as I love Zell, Rinoa, Quistis and Ellone.
"Selphie, cheer up," Irvine said, touching her elbow. The young woman nodded and a smile came upon her lips. Irvine put his arm around her, pressing his lips to her cheek, his warm breath flowing down her neck. "I promise you, Selphie," he whispered to her, his mouth so close, his voice so low, only Selphie could hear. "I promise that when we return to Garden, when Rinoa has married Squall, that," he stopped to kiss her neck, rubbing his nose gently on her face, his lips closed upon Selphie's, until they indulged on a kiss. Not a long kiss, only short, a short one, lasting long enough to let Selphie savor on Irvine's taste, his clean smell. Selphie's hands reached up, until they touched his face, stroking past his ears, she rested them on his shoulders and around his neck as she responded to his touch.
"You promise me what?" she asked softly, forgetting that they were not alone, but with Zell, who had thankfully decided to disappear to complain. Irvine lifted Selphie's chin, so they looked into each other's eyes.
"Oh, I promise you, everything, but most of all I promise that you will never regret another day of your life, that you will no longer feel insecure as I know you do. Never again will you yearn for love. Seffie, I love you and you only. I will devout my life to one person, you. I am yours. I promise you bliss, perfect happiness and I know that we can have that. Together we can be as one. We can be happy and we will. Like Squall is with Rinoa. I won't lose you, I can't lose you, I have surrendered my soul to you already. I promise everything will be all right. Don't be frightened of losing anybody, I promise you this. Squall will be alive, he will marry Rinoa. And Selphie, "Irvine's eyes looked deep into Selphie's. Love blossomed between them.
"Yes...."Selphie asked calmly, stroking Irvine's hair as she looked into him. Never had she felt so close so someone like she did to him. Yet, this didn't feel so new. It was as if she had felt this way for years.
"My love for you is so great it hurts. So, if you wouldn't mind," Irvine suddenly reached into his pocket and drew out a box, to big to hold rings. Engagement wasn't on his mind yet. Selphie wondered why she felt so disappointed. I'm not ready for marriage yet! I've only just realised how much I love him!
Irvine opened the lid and took out a silver necklace that held a droplet of an emerald, a small emerald, five millimeters in width and not even a centimeter in length. It was beautiful. Irvine gently clipped it around Selphie's neck. It glistened in the light sunlight that was shining through the window. The light refracted off from the emerald necklace, making it seem almost magical in a way.
"Irvine, it's...beautiful," Selphie said, awe struck, with the necklaces beauty and her love for Irvine. Irvine looked lovingly into her eyes and they kissed, for longer this time. It was a soft kiss, gentle and slow. Selphie and Irvine's bodies pressed close together as they kissed. Closer and closer.
The train started moving again; it continued its journey slowly after a heavy jerk. Zell rejoined Selphie and Irvine when he saw that they were no longer so closely entwined.
"So...you're finally a couple," Zell said. Selphie nodded, despite her sadness, she laughed. "Yes, I am finally with Irvine and we are a couple. "
Zell nodded, now it looked like only Quistis remained single. Zell smiled secretly to himself, his emotions calmed, his anger subdued. It had taken him a while to pluck up enough courage to talk to that girl in the library it had come to a surprise to find that she had fancied him since, well ages. They hadn't done anything, not even kissed or anything intimate. They had just talked. She had done most of the talking, Zell, for once hadn't been able to open his big mouth, the shock had glued his lips together.
Rinoa ate her breakfast alone this morning. Alone to think about Squall, to dream about him and their wedding night. She remembered that night, when they had kissed, the very first time on the balcony. He had smiled at her...six weeks later he told her he loved her...in a very inconspicuous manner. Rinoa laughed softly to herself. When he had told her, he had been just about to leave, to visit Winhill, alone, something Quistis had suggested he should do, he hadn't been that happy about it. Squall had just kissed her on the cheek, which she had responded with a deep kiss on is lips. Squall had walked out of the door and then stopped.
'I'll be back on Sunday, Rinoa, love you,' he had said and walked out, leaving her red faced and feeling hot all over. She had had to wait three whole days before she could throw herself upon him, and kiss those lips she had missed and wanted.
Rinoa finished her breakfast, of cornflakes, no sugar. After drinking the last of the orange juice, she slipped off her silky night gown; Squall had bought for her on the spur of the moment. He had left it on her bed, too shy to present it to her face. Wondering what to wear, she browsed through her wardrobe and drawers, of all the clothes she had brought with her and left behind in her father's house. Finally, she found a long orange skirt with a split going up one side and a small tight fitting tee-shirt to match, a change from what she usually wore.
"Good morning, Rinoa," Laguna said as Rinoa came out of her room, still playing with the ends of her hair with her brush.
"Morning, Laguna," she smiled, throwing her brush back into her bedroom. Laguna studied his daughter-in-law, or who was soon to be that anyway.
"Squall...he's very lucky to be with you Rinoa. I'm lucky to have a son with such excellent taste in women. Sometimes you remind me of my Raine. I think my wife would of loved you," he said, his eyes suddenly sparker ling with wet tears.
Rinoa hugged Laguna; she hated to see this man cry. She hated to see him upset. Laguna had coped well with his wife's death, from the outside anyway. Being re-united with his son and seeing him become engaged...well, sought of, had been all too much for Laguna. Laguna wrapped his arms around Rinoa; he missed Raine so much now. The feeling of her loss was still bitterly raw in his heart.
"And I'm very lucky to have a father-in-law like you Laguna," Rinoa said as they pulled away from each others embrace. "Let's go down, before they start thinking something's happening to us," Rinoa said softly. With their arms linked, Laguna and Rinoa descended down stairs.
They were greeted with grim faces as they entered the lounge. Rinoa's face fell suddenly with worry as she saw her three friends from Garden standing with her father and Ellone.
"It's Squall, isn't it," she guessed. Irvine nodded blankly. Rinoa crouched down, hugging her knees. Laguna knelt down beside her, looking up at Irvine, pleading that the news did not look as bad as his face. "He's dead, isn't he...I know it..!" Rinoa started to cry. Irvine shook his head and tried to find his tongue. Zell was trying to say something, but it wouldn't come out and Selphie was the only one who had the voice to explain.
"No, no, Rinoa! Nothing likes that, well Squall's alive, we know that. The enemy Dollet force, which is only holding up because of Galbadian aid. They've kidnapped Squall...and we don't know where he is," Selphie explained. "Nida sent us the message," she added.
Rinoa looked up from leaning on Laguna's shoulder as he comforted her. She nodded absently, trying to hold back more tears. This was the worst news she had received in her life. "He will be OK though, won't he?" she asked. Irvine nodded and found his tongue.
"We're going over to Dollet. We are Squall's friends, it's our duty, but it isn't just duty. It's what we as friends want to do," Irvine said.
"I want to come with you!" Rinoa said abruptly. Laguna hugged her tighter.
"No, Rinoa, you will stay here with Ellone and Selphie, I know you probably want to go, but we need you to be here," Laguna said, taking charge.
"No, I'll stay, I knew one of us had to, it's better this way. I may not go to fight for Squall, but I'll help keep his fiancé happy. That is just as important," Selphie said. Laguna smiled.
"Irvine, Zell and I will go to Dollet. I need to buy a new machine gun...but later. Ellone, Selphie look after Rinoa. I want everything to carry on as planned. Go and get the dress today and pick up the rings, as before. Nothing will change. Squall will return, I promise," Laguna said, looking deeply into Rinoa's eyes.
"Then everything is settled, yes?" Irvine asked, holding his silver gun close to his chest. I'm gonna blow those Galbadians all the way to the moon
Zell nodded, tightened his red gloves and punched the air with determination.
I'm gonna kick some ass Laguna nodded and flexed his fingers, he was going to need a new machine gun.
I'm going to kill those bastards...nobody takes my son from me!
"Let's go," he said, "now. Rinoa, Squall will return to you, he'll return safely, you have my word!" Laguna told Rinoa firmly and bowed his head to her with firm sincerity, he meant it.
"You have our word, Rinoa," Irvine said and Zell nodded. Rinoa smiled, she meant this smile. She felt honored to have such close friends, honored that her future husband had such close friends. Friends that would die for him and a father who would do the same.
"I believe in you," Rinoa said, close to tears, but they were tears of happiness, tears of honor. "Thank you...I wish you the best of luck, though I know you won't need that. I will believe in all of you, all the way. I believe in Squall too. That he will not leave me, ever," Rinoa said, still quietly.
"With you believing in us...then we can fear nothing," Laguna said, with that he, Irvine and Zell left the room, determination to reclaim Laguna's son, their friend, set clearly and firmly in each of their eyes.
Rinoa looked at her father, Selphie and Ellone. She forced a smile upon her lips, she was determined herself, to stay as happy as she could be, with the knowledge of Squall's terrible situation, she wanted to stay happy, for Squalls sake as much as her own.
"Rinoa...."Ellone said and then stopped as Rinoa held up her hand.
"No. Laguna is right. I have to carry on as normal. Squall wouldn't want me to throw everything away just because of this...I know he wouldn't and nor would Laguna. I don't want people comforting me for there is no need. I need to stay strong. Strong for Squall. Strong for Laguna. Zell. Irvine. I have to be strong for everyone and everyone at Dollet. Strong for Quistis too. Strong for me. So, please, help me be strong and be strong with me. I need you to be strong for me too," Rinoa said, her heart felt ten times bigger then it was before, her chest was tight.
"Rinoa we're behind you all the way!" Selphie said. I have to be strong for Irvine doesn't I? I have to be strong for Rinoa too? Can I do that? Yes, of course I can! I can be strong, if I believe in my friends, the people I love and the person I love, I can be strong for everyone. Like Rinoa, strong.
Ellone felt what Rinoa and Selphie reflect on to her. Have to be strong too not just for Rinoa and Squall, but for Uncle Laguna...I may not love him in the way that Rinoa loves Squall...and I know Selphie loves Irvine, it's been in their eyes ever since they entered. I love Laguna as much as they love their men, only in a different way. I can be strong, I know I can. I must be strong, for Laguna!
General Caraway didn't really know Squall, or any of Rinoa's friends. So how could he be strong, he didn't know. Being Rinoa's father though, that was enough. He didn't like to see her hurt Squall had made her happy, it was his friends, Rinoa's friends that made her come back to him and make up. Squall too.
"We better go and find my dress, then," Rinoa said calmly.
"Whaa-hoo...let's go shopping!" Selphie said excitedly. It was amazing, she should be crying, they should be crying, upset over Squall, his death after all was looming over them, but none of them were thinking that. Squall was alive and he was going to come back and marry Rinoa. What they believed, what they felt, was so strong, bad thoughts had never even entered their heads. All together, they were strong, very strong. It was a wonderful feeling. They still worried about Squall of course, but the pure belief that he would return, kept them satisfied. Love and friendship always won.
Rinoa sighed at herself as she looked at herself in the white dress in the long mirror. This was the second shop and hundredth dress she had tried on. None of them she liked, they were too big, to scratchy, or too bulky.
"It's awful," she sighed, "I'm tired of this," she moaned and returned to the changing room to return to her own clothes. The shop assistant looked sympathetic.
"There must be one you like," Ellone said. Truthfully, she had hated every dress in this shop as well as the other shops. They had all been the ugliest and worst fitting things she had ever seen.
"There must bee another shop around," Selphie said, only hoping there was.
"No, there isn't I'm sorry," the shop assistant said, annoyed that the pretty young lady had tried on ever dress in the shop and moaned about all of them. They would get no customer from this one and the assistant was bitter. Rinoa saw this bitterness.
"Well, I doubt anyone would want to buy a dress here with a person like you helping them. If that standing around looking like a scarecrow was called help. I suppose you think that this shop is better then any other shop? Well, it isn't. I would look better in a bin liner then any of these frocks!" Rinoa said angrily
"Well then miss! Trash is all you're worth. I'm surprised that you're even getting married, ugly tart like you," the assistant retorted. Rinoa's mouth gaped at this insult.
"Are you married? Has anyone actually asked you to marry you?!" Rinoa almost shouted.
"Well for a matter or fact, yes! He is a real gentleman...the best you can get. Better then what trash you managed to bribe into marring you! I bet he's a beggar!" she said back trying not to look afraid, for Rinoa looked as if she was about to hit the assistant.
"Liar!" Rinoa spat, "and for your information," Rinoa said, fire glowing in her eyes, her anger even made Selphie and Ellone cringe. "I am Rinoa Heartilly! General Caraway's daughter...." she stopped, suddenly realizing how useless that was. Caraway was no longer General of Deling, some new chap was. However Rinoa saw by the look on the woman's face that this threat had been enough to scare her, maybe after two years, her father had regained back a little bit more authority. "And the man I am marrying is Squall Leonhart!" the latter frightened the assistant even more. Everybody had heard of Squall, he had saved the world from the evil sorceress after all. Rinoa remembered that she too was a sorceress and smiled. She had never really thought herself as one before.
Selphie and Ellone eyed the assistant with hatred as they dragged Rinoa out of the shop.
"Sorry, I lost it, but...that woman...she just couldn't bare to think that I wasn't going to buy a dress from that shop, one of her stupid dresses! I was just so angry I mean, she stood there like a lemon!" Rinoa didn't know whether she was being weak instead of strong, or she was just genuinely angry. Maybe it was both.
"It's alright Rinoa. We were angry as well; it wasn't as if it was the end of the world that she hadn't managed to sell a dress to someone. She didn't have to be so rude," Ellone soothed the seething Rinoa.
"But where are we going to get a dress now?" Selphie asked.
"I know there's another shop around; I remembered it when I saw that woman's face. I knew she had lied to me; it was in her voice and her eyes. It reminded me of the little shop down a little road. My mother got her wedding dress from there. I remember, when I was four years old that she took me there to show me all those dresses. It was a wonderful shop, run by an old woman and I think it's still there. Come, let's go," Rinoa said.
Rinoa remembered her mother; she had died in a car crash when she had been five years old. She had just come back from infant school, full of giggles over something she and her friend had just seen. Her father and a couple of other people had been standing in the room. Rinoa had entered the room, with the man who always picked her up from school. Rinoa had stopped laughing, even at that age she had been able to sense something was wrong. Her father had asked the two men to leave and had sat Rinoa on his knee and told her that her mother, Julia, had died in a crash. Rinoa had cried on her father, she had never cried so much in her life as she had done then.
After a long walk and many wrong turns, they found the shop, quite alone and empty. Ellone and Selphie were in awe as they entered. It was like a fairytale palace for there were so many beautiful dresses. The walls were a creamy colour and were decorated with ivy, like the ballroom back in Garden. In the corner was a black spiral staircase which led up to another floor, which probably contained the office and where the dresses were sewn...as they were all hand made by the woman who owned it.
"I wonder if that old woman still runs the shop," Rinoa said thoughtfully.
"Won't she be dead now, if she was old back then?" Selphie asked. Rinoa shrugged. The old woman she had seen here all those ears ago had looked over one hundred years old; then again, Rinoa had been so young. Anybody over sixteen was old to her.
"I'm not dead yet, children!" came a croaky old voice, though nice. Coming out from another door was an old woman who looked ancient. Her aged lips, cracked into a smile, her wrinkled face beamed and her eyes, the only part of her that hadn't really aged at all, twinkled. "Ahhh, I remember your mother. Julia, yes?" Rinoa nodded, "hmm, thought so. She bought a beautiful dress you know, beautiful. I remember you too; it must have been fourteen years ago now when she brought you into my little shop here. You were a beautiful child. I told your mother that you were going to grow up into a beautiful young lady and I was right," the old woman smiled.
"You remember me?" Rinoa said her voice quiet with surprise. The old woman nodded.
"I remember every customer," she replied. "I should let you look around though, shouldn't I? I can tell that you have tried every other shop in Deling and you are tired, well, I hope you find what you are looking for here. I am sure that Mr. Leonhart will be awestruck when he see's you in the dress you are about to choose," the old woman said and quickly scampered back into her room, leaving Rinoa and her friends gaping. How did she know that?
"Oh my Hyne!" Rinoa suddenly said as she peered around the place, her eyes set on a dress right at the back, almost hidden away. She walked, almost in a dream over to it. Ellone and Selphie followed, both overcome with the beautiful dress that stood before them, modelled on one of those headless dummies. "It's perfect..." Rinoa muttered.
The wedding dress was long and flowing, it had many silk petty-coats under it, but it was not bulky, but slender. From the skirts it progressed into a bodice that ended low down and was rimmed with perfect lace. The sleeves were long, and ended with a point, shaped like a leaf. The petty-coats were made out of satin and were soft. Rinoa touched the dress, running her fingers down it, along the perfect neck line, The veil, which was modeled on a head which sat on a pillar was long, beautiful and flowing. Neither dress nor veil was over decorated with lace; in fact, there was very little lace.
"Yes, that dress is beautiful is it not? You mother chose one just like it. I am afraid though, Rinoa, my dear, that I have none in your size," the old lady said with sympathy. Rinoa looked crest fallen, she looked lovingly back at the dress, she was close to tears at the moment, she had so wanted that dress. Selphie and Ellone looked just as unhappy and comforted their friend.
"Oh but...it's perfect...there is no other for me..." she said sadly. Although all the other dresses in this shop were very good, beautiful, in fact, none of them were as beautiful as that one.
"Yes, my dear, it is. It would suit you so well, you beauty would be magnified in it, it is, a pity," the old woman looked almost as sad, "but cheer up Rinoa! I made all these dresses myself, I will take your measurements and make one especially for you and for your bridesmaids too," the old woman said. She smiled up at Rinoa, she felt that she couldn't let the girl down; she had to have the dress.
Rinoa smiled and tears came down her eyes out of pure happiness, she threw her arms around the woman and hugged her gently. "Thank you!" she smiled and kissed her wrinkled cheek.
"No, my dear, do not thank me, it is my pleasure, my honor to do this for you. Your mother would be so proud of you if she could see you now so would Squall. It is good that you are being strong for him, he needs you to be," she said.
"How...how do you know all this?" Rinoa asked.
"When you are as old as I, Rinoa, you will know these things, you don't have to be told, I can feel it Rinoa. I know because i know, it is as simple as that," she replied. Rinoa nodded silently, somehow understanding what she had told her, though it was obvious that neither Ellone nor Selphie did.
"When will they be ready?" Rinoa asked.
"In two weeks time, my dear. Do not worry. Squall will not return for another three weeks at least, or maybe that is not much of a consolation," the old woman said softly. Rinoa held her heart, she had to be strong, and she had to be strong.
"But he will come back though..." she said in hope.
"That is yet to be seen, my child," with that the old woman walked slowly up the spiral staircase.
