Chapter 8: Letters

"Morning hun," Rinoa handed Squall a mug of coffee.

"Thanks," he kissed her cheek, "so you ready for the fire cavern test today?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," she paused.

Squall looked at her wondering why she had paused.

"Except I…what I mean is…I was wondering could I borrow Shiva?"

"Sure," Squall stood up and walked over to Rinoa, he handed her his ring, "It's my favourite ring, so don't lose it. It was father's, he gave it to my mother and she gave it to matron. Anyway it contains all the GF's. All you do is have to wear it and you know the rest."

Rinoa then gave Squall a hug, and then smiled at him.

"What?" Squall looked her.

"Nothing I suppose. It's just that you've never told me anything about your parents before."

"…Whatever," he scowled at her. He then realized what he'd done, "Rinoa I'm sorry if I sounded mean then. I will tell you more one day."

"Well I'm use to it now," Rinoa stormed off to their room angry and upset.

"….Rinoa," he followed her.

"What!" she said turning towards him. She had a hurt look on her face.

"I'm really sorry," he took her hands in his, "truly. I love you Rinoa Heartily."

She stared at him and then for gave him, "I love you too. And I'm sorry too."

She then kissed him. He kissed her back.

He took his ring off and placed it on finger, "I'll always love you."

She smiled at him. He smiled back at her.

She walked off to get her weapons ready for the test, "So what have you got planned for today?"

"Huh? Oh I'm taking the day off. Xu is incharge today."

"So your staying in?"

"No. I'm going with Zell to Winhill. I haven't seen my mother's grave for a while."

"Okay. Is there any mail for me?"

"Yeah, there's a letter."

"Thanks," she took the letter off the kitchen table. She recognised the handwriting. It was Strik's.

"oh well. I better go, I have to meet Selphie at the front gate."

"Is she your instructor?" Squall slouched on the sofa and switched the TV on.

"Yep. Well see you later. Thanks for the ring," she kissed his forehead. Then left the apartment.

She opened the letter on the way to the front gate.

As she guessed it was from Strik. They had been sending letters to each otherfor three months now. She then smiled at the letter when she read he wanted to meet her. She still had so much to tell him. She hadn't told him about Squall. Or that her mother was dead. She saw this as a opportunity to take him to see her grave.

She walked into the apartment exhausted.

"So how'd it go?" Squall said lowly. He sat on the sofa his head lowered , he was looking at the floor.

"What's wrong? Has something happened?" she panicked.

"No," he sniffed.

"Squall what's wrong?" she sat down next to him.

"Nothing," he looked at her. He looked as if he'd been crying.

"Squall," Rinoa said softly, "why have you been crying? Did you visit your mother's grave?"

"Do you want to know about some off my past? I don't really tell any one about my past. I've always had to deal with things on my own, but then I found you, Quitis, Selphie, Zell and Irvine. I never trusted any one before, but I do now."

"Squall I've always been here for you, I'm happy you know that."

"Anyway the ring I gave you this morning was my father's. Laguna Loire."

"The president of Esthar?" Rinoa questioned.

"Yes. He was a solider and my mother looked after him when he was injured. But gradually as time passed they fell inlove. But he gave her this ring the night before he left. She woke up the next morning to find he had left. He never knew she was pregnant with…me. She didn't know until after he'd left. And she died giving birth to me. The ring was found with a letter addressed to 'My Unborn Child' it had in the letter who my father was and explained about the ring. And that's why I have been crying. I don't know why…"

"Squall," Rinoa hugged him, "Thank you for trusting me and telling me more about you."