"I need you more then anything in my life. I want you more then anything in my life. I'll miss you more then anything in my life. I love you more then anyone in my life."

Quistis didn't sleep easily that night. When she awoke, her pillow was slightly damp, and the dream of her and Squall on the beach haunted her. After glancing at the clock, she scowled. It was nearly three am, but she had to talk to him. Maybe then, she could sleep. She took the rose as she threw on a robe over her pajamas.

His bedroom was just across the hall, but it was though there was huge gulf between her door and his. She didn't know what to say to him, not after his confession. Even though she finally knew that he returned his feelings for her, she was... Was what? Why was she so scared? She knocked lightly on the door. No reply. Either he had become a deep sleeper in the past month, or he wasn't in his room. Still, she had to try. So, she knocked again, still nothing. Sighing, she decided to try the doorknob, which usually worked in the movies. With a slight click, the door opened, and she walked in.

He wasn't there. The sheets were rumpled, showing that someone had been in the bed recently. She walked over to it, laying one hand on the pillow. It was still warm. Perhaps he was having trouble sleeping as well. With a sigh, she sat upon the bed, waiting.

When she awoke, she frowned. The light from the windows was directly in her eyes. She buried her face in the pillow, the scent of Squall's cologne tickling her nose. That made her jerk awake. Why would her pillow smell like Squall?

Disoriented for a moment, she looked around. She wasn't in her room. She was ... In Squall's? That's right, she had waited for him to return, but had ended up falling asleep. She noted that her robe was on the chair, a note resting on it. She pushed the covers off, as she reached over to grab it. "You looked comfortable, and I didn't want to wake you." No name, but she knew his handwriting. So he had tucked her in last night. She had to go find him, to talk to him.

He didn't know how he had managed to avoid her for almost two days. It was hard, considering she had left dozens of messages for him with Ward, Kiros, Laguna, and a few of the servants. However, he had kept himself busy for tonight. It'd be the final function of the week, although they'd be staying an extra day after tonight. Then tomorrow evening, he'd be returning back to the Garden. Back to trying to pretend that he and Quistis were friends. Although he didn't know why she wanted to talk to him, he assumed she wanted to tell him that it'd never work between them. She only cared for him as a brother, though sometimes he wondered.

Quistis looked at herself in the mirror. The rose was still its vibrant red color, not having faded. She started to pull her hair back, then released it. It fell around her shoulders, in a golden waterfall. She'd leave it loose tonight. For him. That's how she'd been wearing it when she had tried on the dress. Tonight, maybe, they'd finally be able to talk. With a sigh, she reached out to stroke the velvet petals of the rose.

Squall and Laguna were talking when she entered the ballroom. She smiled slightly, noting the fact that he had worn his tux. Perhaps for her? Squall wondered what had caused Laguna to trail off mid sentance. The older man smiled slightly, then ran a hand through his dark bangs. "You know that she cares for you, right?" ".... Excuse me?" Squall blinked. "Quistis. Why do you think she's been looking for you? And if I were a younger, smarter man... I would have gone to her. Instead of avoiding her." Squall flushed guiltily. He couldn't help it - he couldn't face being rejected, again. Laguna patted his shoulder, then winked. "Good luck." With a smile and wave over Squall's shoulder, he was gone.

"Squall...?" Softly, shyly. He turned, eyes closing slightly as he saw it was Quistis. The soft lighting of the ballroom suited her fair features. She looked even more bewitching then the day she had tried the dress on, if such a thing were possible. It was like she was a creature bathed in moonlight, dancing from shadow to shadow. And that's what he was, a mere shadow to her light.

"Quistis." His voice sounded a little rough, even to his own ears. He took a small sip from his wineglass, noting that she wore her gift. "I'm glad you approved of it." He motioned to the shawl she had draped around her shoulders. He had bought in another store, while she had been shopping for shoes to go with the dress. It was made of a light blue silk, edged with silver and crystal beads. The color of it reminded him of her eyes. Those eyes that he'd often find himself lost in while in class, so long ago.

"It's from you." She responded, smiling slightly. "Look, we need to talk..."

"Quistis... I..." She held up one hand, halting his words. "Please, Squall. At least allow me to be able to respond to what you said the other night."

He nodded, that was only fair. He offered his arm to her, and she accepted it, entwining her arm through his. "Let's go outside, because we have a crowd." he frowned thoughtfully, glancing over his shoulder as they walked away. In a fluid movement, three men's heads looked down at exactly the same time. He hid his smile, though inside, he was already growing cold.

They stepped outside, Quistis smiling at the lights of Esthar. This reminded her of another ball, yet it had been the lights of Balamb Garden that had glowed in the distance. However, that night was so far different from this. She had tried to tell Squall of her feelings, hurt when he rejected her. But now she understood partly why he had acted that way, that night.

She leaned against the railing, shivering slightly as a chill breeze danced around them. Without a word, Squall removed his jacket, draping it over her shoulders. Although shiver, though this time from the contact between them. She didn't know that his hands would be soft, considering his weapon of choice. Squall took a step away, leaning against the railing as well. "You wanted to talk."

"Squall... I don't quite know how to begin." He waited, as she gathered her thoughts. He found himself studying the glint of silver in her hair, and decided to focus on that, instead of the aching feeling that was beginning to well up in his heart. "I once told you that I cared for you as a brother. It was a lie, to save face in front of them... and in front of Rinoa. It was obvious that she was the one for you, Squall.... Not I. I couldn't even tell you how I truly felt. And she'd been the one to break you from that shell."

She paused, eyes closing. "Yet two nights ago, you come and tell me that you care for me. Then say it would be easier pretending to be friends. Sometimes, I don't know where I stand with you, Squall. But I have to tell you this. The reason why I ran... That night on the beach..."

She turned, opening her eyes. And met his gaze evenly, not wanting him to look away or down when she finished. "Was because I had too. I had to get away, before I broke down and told you that I loved you.... After I saw you kiss Rinoa." He didn't know what to say. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, but she held her head up proudly. He continued to look into her eyes, the emotions in saw in them reflecting the ones that he himself were going through. That was when he took her into his arms, hugging her as tightly as he dared too, not wanting to crash the fragile goddess he saw before him. "I had... I had always cared for you Quistis. But when you said you felt only that way... I never told you, because I was your student. Then that night... I was so..."

"Afraid." She murmured against him. "Afraid, as was I." "Yes..." He ran his fingers through her hair, as she linked her arms around his waist. They remained that way for a few moments, before Quistis titled her head back. "Squall..." She paused, as he smiled down at her. "I... I love you..."

Something glittered in his eyes, as he leaned in closer to her. His breath tickled her ear as he whispered those same words to her, before trailing teasing kisses along the side of her cheek. Their eyes met once again before their lips did. Overhead, the moon peeked out from behind its thin veil of clouds, smiling upon them. And behind the glass doors leading to the balcony, so did three men.

Laguna slung an arm around both Kiros and Ward. "We'll have to call them." "You can do the honors, Laguna. But you got lucky..." "I know! I thought that when he was avoiding her... oy..."

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And.. the end. ^_^ I hope everyone enjoyed... ^^ As usual: I don't own em. Daft Punk -"something between us." If you'd like to read a little side chapter - another fluff moment between Squall and Quistis, please read "Daydream" it does tie into this story. ^_^