Disclaimer. Not Mine. This story is for me and friends to enjoy so, please don't spoil our fun?

Dedicated, as always to the girls in the mailing group… especially Seifer on black silk. ^_^

Right, I'm English remember? Little ol' me here in the UK? So when I say "Chip" I mean fries… but not the kind you get from MacDonald's… They're like big chunky ones, like my dad makes. *Cheesy grin as she really butters up her dad. (best chips in Walsall, if not the world)!!!!!*

The soft drumming of raindrops on the glass of the windowpane made Quistis stir from the warm arms of sleep that had held her throughout the night. She looked down at the sleeping blonde fondly; his pale features softened by the half-light making him seem a little less fierce and a little more handsome, if that were possible. He shifted a little as she sat up, fingers knotting in the black silk of the sheets.

She planted the softest of kisses upon his cheek and kicked her legs out over the side of the bed, slipping on his navy blue robe having lost her own sometime in the move down to this apartment in Balamb. Padding her way across the bedroom to the wide window that looked out onto the harbour of Balamb.

The raindrops struck the window with a low repetitive sound, a hollow sound. Reaching out one hand she touched the window, so cold that it burned her fingers like a blow from Shiva. It had been a day like this that she had met Seifer again….

********A brief encounter.********

The last train from Deling had left almost half an hour before and Quistis felt like… shit to put it bluntly. The mission had gone badly and she had almost lost her captive twice on the mission. She was just thankful that it was over now. There was a political conference in the city and every hotel room was taken either by a visiting dignitary or a member of the press covering it.

The rain poured down upon the dirty roofs of the city soaking Quistis to the bone. She hadn't bought a coat with her, choosing to foolishly believe the cheesy smile of the international weather forecaster on the television that morning.

After the fifth and final hotel had turned her away, she almost broke down into floods of tears.

But no, she was a SeeD and stronger than that… Wasn't she?

She bit her lip and headed out into the rain again. No one could see the tears on her cheeks as the rain ran over her ice-cold cheeks, plastering her golden hair tight against her head.

By the time she could no longer feel her fingers she was ready to fall asleep on her feet. A tap on her shoulder took time to register in her cold-numbed senses. She turned slowly, wondering who had dared to encroach upon her personal space and her hand instinctively moved to the handle of her whip as she saw the familiar face.

"Seifer!" She hissed.

"Whoa!" Seifer said, as he held up his hands in mock surrender. "No harm intended instructor!"

She narrowed her eyes towards him, studying him for any ulterior motive, relaxing her stance a little as she saw he was unarmed. "What do you want Almasy?" she asked.

He shrugged his long jacket off as he spoke. "I thought you looked like you needed some warmth. What's up? No room at the inn for a lone instructor?" She looked dumbly at the hand offering her the coat, her tired brain trying to work out why he was being so kind. He smirked just a little and wrapped the coat over her shoulders.

"Erm… no." She looked up into his oak-green eyes and asked: "Why are you doing this?"

He made a gesture that told her he wasn't sure himself. "Maybe it's something from my knight days… Can't pass by a damsel in distress without helping."  He absently rubbed his arms, as the goose bumps started to rise. "Instructor, d'you wanna come inside for a drink or something? It's warmer at least." He waved to a bar nearby."

'He's just like he used to be…' Considering it for a moment before nodding Quistis offered her arm, and he took it with a slight amount of surprise on his face.

The bar they entered was small and relatively busy, and the barman waved to Quistis' companion calling out: "Hey Seif, back already?"

Seifer steered her towards the bar. "Hey Craig."

"You'd only been gone five minutes man…, hey, who's this?"

"An old enemy." Seifer grinned as he squeezed her arm gently to warn that he was only joking. "What would you like Trepe? My treat of course."

"Whatever you're having would be fine." She said, looking around the bar.

"Two of the usual then Craig, and chuck a couple of hotdogs on that too. Usual table."

"You got it boss."

"Boss?" Quistis questioned as he showed her to a quiet booth. She could have sworn she saw a faint blush on Seifer's cheeks.

"Yeah well… There aren't many jobs for those that don't make SeeD. Especially someone as notorious as me. I didn't want to come back to B-Garden, too many memories… Anyway, thanks to Squall and Zell, I got a job in a Balamb pub, I've been doing quite well. They sent me over here for a few weeks when the last manager quit to sort it out and take charge until the big boss moves here. Then I'm back at Balamb."

"You've done well for yourself then… I'm glad." She smiled as a waitress placed their order on the table.

"Pulled boss?" She giggled and walked off.

Seifer glared at the retreating form and Quistis laughed. "Let them have their fun Seifer."

He shrugged and picked up a hotdog. "Warming up?"

She nodded. "I wondered what you were doing now… Why didn't Squall or Zell say something? I thought you were…." She shook her head and took a sip of the drink he had ordered, making a face at the bitter taste of the dark pint of stout.

"Probably because I told them not to."

"Why?"

"Didn't want Tilmitt to find me. She wanted revenge."

"Selphie is over that now." Quistis sighed, and reached for a chip, dunking it into the tomato sauce with vigour. "It's the rest of I'm worried about."

Seifer studied her for a while as she ate then finally found the courage to ask what he wanted to. "You miss me Quisty?" 

"I miss breaking up the fights between you and Squall… and I miss teaching you. And Garden is too quiet now without you and your posse to liven the place up." She finished the drink and he motioned for two more. "Do you miss me?"

"All the time… all of you guys." He added quickly.

She felt the faint heat of a blush rise in her cheeks.

When Seifer asked if she wanted to stay the night, she said yes… she wasn't sure if it was the drink talking or maybe the little voice in the back of her mind reminding her how handsome he looked but she said yes.

He was a perfect gentleman as he showed her around the apartment above the pub and gave her the bedroom. "I've got a perfectly good sofa." He told her. "I'll be fine."

She stared down at the floor beneath her naked feet as he found an extra pillow and a couple of blankets from a cupboard. "Seifer?" She whispered.

"Yeah Quisty?"

"I don't wanna be alone tonight…"

"Do you know what you're saying? I don't want Leonhart to come round and kill me tomorrow night…"

"I know… I want to feel someone next to me. Please?"

He regarded her with a fond look and nodded.

In the bedroom, he turned his head away as she undressed and waited until she was under the covers before turning the lights out and stripping himself. He lay on top of the covers on the other side of the double bed and pulling a blanket over himself.

"This will have to do Quisty… I don't like taking advantage of people. Not in this way at least."

"It's better than nothing." She mumbled, already half asleep.

********

She glanced back at the blonde fondly. That had been more than a year ago now…

And she had loved him from the moment she'd seen him back in Balamb…

A/N

And that will be the next chapter.

Right sorry this is late and short but I have rewritten this twelve times (seriously) and I still don't like it too much. I am sorry if they're a little out of character but hey you know what alcohol does!

BTW, any YAOI fans reading Journey's end too, I'll post another chapter soon, I'm still looking for character names…

Now, there's a little button down here saying "click here to submit review"… click it please!!!!!!

Luv Nikki