Squall and Quistis sat facing each other.

They were at a table set up near the large barbeque tent occupying the beach. Squall they were both eating hotdogs and watching a reenactment that one of Dollet's local middle schools was putting on of their very mission.

As they watched, a seventh grader playing Squall ran from an undersized version of the X-ATM092.

At the waters edge, a replica of an old SeeD ship awaited him. At the door stood the children playing Zell and Selphie. The crowd hushed as the creature grew closer, and closer still.

Suddenly out of the boats hatch popped an eighth grader playing Quistis, and will a fake machine gun she ripped into the creature's side.

The child playing Squall leapt, and landed safely on the deck of the ship. Immediately the curtain dropped. Everyone clapped, and the children came out to bow.

Quistis looked at Squall, then at the water, staring into her reflection.

It had been so long ago, when she had just been his instructor.

You say that as though you have reached a higher standpoint in his mind, you were just his instructor, but now you two are really close.

Quistis frowned as the sarcastic voice of reality floated up, seemingly coming from the apparition of herself on the water, and intervened with her thoughts.

Are you any more to him now than you were then, or is he just nicer because Rinoa taught him to live a little?

But then, there's an improvement, no more Rinoa.

And you two were a regular Romeo and Juliet before Rinoa came too.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Hey I am your sense of logic, I'll always be there for you.

Why doesn't he like me, do you think it's my looks, but I've got so many other admirers, I can't be that hideous, in fact, judging by the opinions of most other people, I'd say I'm at least pretty.

Hey, no argument here. Replied her reflection and she began to laugh, which the reflection mimicked.

"Are you okay Quistis?" asked Squall, looking at her strangely.

Immediately Quistis realized she had been laughing aloud, and began to blush as she muttered that she was fine. Talking to her reflection.

You've lost it.

Quiet You.

 Squall raised his eyebrow and their eyes met at length. Quistis' probed Squall's stormy gray orbs, and for a moment Squall had an urge to dive deep into the sea of her Crystalline blue ones. Now Squall Leonhart wasn't a coward, but he quickly looked back to the stage where a man had stepped up with a microphone.

"Hello everyone and welcome to Dollet's 7th annual freedom festival, today we celebrate the day be were liberated from the Galbadian army's occupation." A cheer rang up in the crowd.

"It is, my esteemed pleasure to announce that two very special people are joining us the evening.

It gives me great honor to introduce two of the very SeeD's who played a part in this mission, Squall Leonhart and his former instructor Quistis Trepe."

Squall's eyes shot up from his hot dog and he looked at Quistis, his expression betraying his confusion.

She shrugged at him and slowly the two stood. A thousand faces scrutinized them as they walked to the stage.

The man spoke once more. "For your bravery in helping to restore peace to our small town, we present you with this."

At this time two soldiers from Dollet came forward and handed a Chocobo to them.

Taking the strange gift, Squall stared; this was a baby Chocobo, no more than 1 year old. Squall looked at Quistis, for they both knew that to refuse the gift would be rude, but what were two SeeD's going to do with a Chocobo?

Before they could ponder the question any longer, the man spoke again. "Now this lovely couple will lead us in our first dance of the night, to the tune of the smash hit 'Eyes on you, Eyes on me' by Julia."

Couple, I wish

Quistis blushed and raised her hand to correct the man on their martial status, however before she could tap him on the back; Squall's hand took hers.

Quistis looked at him uncertainly, and he smiled "Madam, may I have this Dance?" he asked. She studied him, and considered his request…for about a millisecond.

"Why of course kind sir." She replied feeling relieved and happy to play along. When she felt his hand move to the small of her back she had to control herself to keep from shivering.

She than moved her other free hand just below his neck and as the music began to play, the two became lost in it. The night continued on like this, and for sometime they continued dancing.

Finally, as the clock struck ten, their 36th dance ended. Quistis glanced at the clock nonchalantly and then as she realized the time looked back up just to be sure she had seen it right.

"Squall," she spoke "Hmm?" he relied as he spun her around. "We've been dancing for three hours," she pointed out "Plus we were supposed to meet at the hotel an hour ago."

"Let's finish this dance, then we'll go back." Squall replied, and so as soon as it was over the pair reluctantly broke away from the dance's embrace.

As they walked toward the hotel, a sound caused them to stop. Running up behind them was the Chicobo they had been given.

They stopped, giving it a chance to catch up. "What should we do with it?" Squall wondered aloud "I guess we have to keep it," replied Quistis "I mean after all, they took it from it's mother and now it's touched human hands. No Chocobo would take it back now."

"Are you crazy?" Squall cried, "We can't keep it." "Well then we can take it back with us and talk to Cid about what should be done with it, please Squall." Quistis was sure Squall would turn down her request, but his eyes fell on the helpless creature and softened.

"Well," he began "I say we call it Boko." Quistis clapped her hands in delight, however just at that moment, a red flare shot into the air.

The monster was upon them.