The rays of dawn's first light were washing over Quistis' face when she woke up.

And she blinked.

*.... Where........... Am I? Why... Why aren't I dead? Dammit, why aren't I DEAD?* She thought, sitting upright and immediately regretting it. A wave of dizziness hit, and weakness washed over her, causing her to lie back down. She frowned a little. Who ever had brought her here seemed to have left her shoes on. And, while the black pumps were stylish and sexy, they were not meant to be slept in. Her feet throbbed, and Quistis was sure they were bruised. Here eyes focused more on her surroundings.

She finally concluded she was in the orphanage. The walls around her looked like they were barely standing, ready to fall over with the slightest touch. The bed she was lying on was little more than blankets piled on a dusty floor. Broken furniture was everywhere, and a broken window was letting in the hazy light.

*Well, if all else fails I can die from the walls collapsing on me.* She thought dryly. Whomever had 'saved' her was going to get a piece of her mind, before she set of to try to end her life again. Lips pressed in a firm line, she sat up, slower this time, and the dizziness came again, but not so strongly that she had to lie down. She heard footsteps approaching, and she opened her mouth to give her 'savior' a piece of her mind....

When HE walked in.

Quistis managed a few vowel sounds, with a squeak or two thrown in. Her left eyebrow began to twitch oh so slightly.

Seifer was standing in front of her.

SEIFER.

He was dressed casually, in a stained white tee shirt and a pair of jeans. He hadn't changed a bit. Not a single bit. His emerald eyes looked somewhat bemused as he looked at her, eyebrow delicately raised.

He looked so sexy standing there.

With that last thought, Quistis snapped out of her brief assessment of her former student.

"Where the hell do you get off, trying to play the little hero and saving my life?" She demanded, hands balled into little fists. Seifer blinked, then chuckled, running a hand through his blonde hair.

"My DEAR instructor, hello to you too! Nice dress, by the way. Love the color." he replied, leaning against the doorframe.

"Answer me! Why didn't you let me die?" Quistis demanded, tears brimming in her eyes.

"And miss the opportunity to aggravate you one last time?" He asked, feigning shock. "Never!"

Quistis glared at him. "Well THANK YOU so VERY FREAKING MUCH for saving my PATHETIC life. Now, if you'll EXCUSE ME, I think I have a date with Death." She announced, trying to stand. But her body wouldn't permit it, and her legs gave out, causing her to tumble back into the bed.

"Hm. Looks like your 'date' will have to be postponed until you can stand up." Seifer said, making a slight 'tisking' noise. "Now, one does have to wonder, what could possibly drive such a prestigious woman such as your... lovely self, to suicide? Did puberty boy stand you up on a date?"

Quistis silently fumed. "And ONE has to wonder, what would drive such an arrogant asshole such as yourself, to follow me to my former home and stick his nose in other people's business?" She replied, gritting her teeth.

Seifer stood up straight, glaring right back at the woman lying on HIS bed. "Now see here, I was here BEFORE you pranced down here and tried to off yourself. You're trespassing you know. This is my property now."

"Your property? I have just as much right to this place as you do!"

"Oh ya?"

"Ya!"

"Well fine!"

"Fine!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!!!!"

The two glared at each other, neither one moving, until finally Quistis spoke.

"IF you don't MIND, Almsy, I'd like to get dressed." She said, her glare unwavering.

"FINE." Seifer said, glaring with all his might.

And they sat there, glaring for a full five minutes, before again Quistis broke the silence.

"Please LEAVE." Quistis said, getting aggravated.

"Nope. You might try something while I'm gone. No, I think I'll stay riiiiiiiiiight here." Seifer replied, a grin on his face.

Quistis let out a frustrated sigh. "Then at least turn your back?" Seifer pouted, but complied. He heard the rustling of clothes, the sound of Quistis wrestling to get out of the dress, and a low growl as he heard the garment being thrown across the room. Then more rustling of clothes, the zipping of zippers, and a relieved sigh as he heard what sounded like two shoes being discarded through the window. He chose that moment to turn around, deciding she was done changing.

Quistis had redressed in the simple green tank top and jean shorts she had been wearing when she arrived, lacking any other clothes. She had, after all, thought that the dress would be the only thing she'd need.

"Look, Almsy," Quistis began with a tired sigh, "my purpose on this Earth had passed. I saved the planet. Gee wiz. Whoop dee do. I did my duty, and now the only thing left in my little life is to die. There's nothing else for me to do. Nothing."

Seifer frowned, then put his best 'pouty face' on. "But Trepe, were you just going to leave, without restoring your home to its former glory? Tisk Tisk. Really, I expected more out of you."

Quistis blinked. "Almsy, what ARE you doing here?" Seifer blinked.

"Uh... Well... Actually... I was planning on rebuilding our dear orphanage and living here... You interrupted my nap with your little show last night, by the way." Seifer said, with a frown on his face.

"..." It was Quistis' turn to raise an eyebrow. "From my impression of things, it would appear that you've been here for a few weeks. I see no signs of construction. It's just like you to be lazy about things."

"Hey now, I've been working! I was clearing the island of monsters!" Seifer defended himself, gesturing wildly around.

"Uh huh. And tell me, where are your building supplies? I see no wood, or nails or anything." Quistis continued. "In fact, when I arrived here it looked just as neglected as ever. What did you expect, that all of your work would just magically do itself?"

Seifer started to get a little angry. "There's a forest nearby, I was going to use that for the wood. And as for nails and stuff like that, I've got shipments on the way. Boats should be arriving soon with everything that I ordered. And what's with all the questions, huh? Aren't you supposed to be downing a bottle of aspirin or something?"

Quistis almost gritted her teeth to the point of them shattering. "I'll have you know this was my home too! I care about how you're going to RUIN it!"

Seifer glared as hard as his emerald eyes could manage. Then, a little lighbulb appeared over his head.

"I'll tell you what, Instructor mine, why don't you help me restore OUR former home. Then, after it's as good as new, you can rest your pretty little head, and then cut it off." Seifer said, his most charming smile appearing on his face.

"... You just want me to help you built your little abode. Cheap labor. No way in hell." Quistis said, continuing her menacing glare.

"Well this way you can supervise my efforts, make sure I don't ruin your little home. After it's all said and done, the house should be as good as new!"

Quistis sighed. It was actually a fairly good idea. The place she held dear to her heart would be restored, and it would give her body time to heal...

But what then? She would have to explain her whereabouts to the Garden, and why she took off so suddenly. She would need clothing, a place to stay, food, and other such items. Squall would probably want to show up and check up on her.

All of the ends that she wouldn't have had to deal with had she died suddenly came loose.

And speaking of which, what about her dying?

Quistis began to chew on her lip. Afterwards, what if she didn't want to die? What if this gave her a chance to live? To reopen the orphanage, and those kids as a reason to live? It was all too neat. Too tidy. Quistis glanced up at Seifer. His eyes, those beautiful eyes, shined with slight excitement, full of genuine hope. She sighed. What choice did she really have?

The will to die seemed to leave her as she continued to stare up into that face...

Quistis frowned harder. "... All right. But on one condition!"

Seifer almost jumped for joy. He wouldn't be alone on the island. Even though this was his sanctuary, his place to get away from a cruel world, he still craved friendship, friendship that he hadn't had since he was little. "Name the condition!"

"After it's rebuilt, you reopen the orphanage with me!"

Seifer's face fell. Reopen the orphanage? Have hordes of screaming wild kids running around? Having to deal with diapers and feeding and bathing the little rugrats?

But then again....

If Matron hadn't done all of that for himself and the rest of the orphanage group... He would have never have met Quisty. And Quistis *had* said 'with me,' meaning she'd stay on and help out. Hell, she'd be taking care of the kids, and they would become her reason to go on. It kept Quistis alive... And with him.

"Done!" Seifer said, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

"Good. I'll have to send word to Balamb about my decision to quit my job, of course. I might have some explaining to do about me disappearing..." Quistis said, continuing to chew on her bottom lip. Seifer was acting strange... nice even...

Seifer groaned. "Puberty Boy is going to flip! You mean to tell me that you left without even leaving a suicide note???"

"Well I didn't want them to know! I figured that they would look for a little while, file me as a missing person, and move on with their happy little lives." Quistis said with a shrug. "I never expected to find a reason to live."

Seifer sighed. This complicated things a little. "You're little friends are all going to want to come down here to make sure you're ok, and then they'll see me, and then they'll draw and quarter me!"

"They won't much care, Seifer. A lot has changed since the war..." Quistis said, staring out the window. The sun had risen, and birds could be heard chirping outside.

"Well, I will be expecting you to contribute half of the funding to built the place, you know. We'll each be half owners. Split everything 50/50." Seifer said, leaning back on the doorframe.

"Fine. Only if we hire builders to do all the building. AND as Matron's permission first. After all, she does still technically own the island. I'll also need clothing. And a decent place to stay. Somewhere away from you is preferable." Quistis replied, crossing her arms.

"Done. When the next boat arrives, we'll set off for garden!" Seifer said cheerfully.

"... WE'LL set off? Seifer....... I don't know if you've realized this... but people don't seem to particularly care for you around Balamb.. Or anywhere else for that matter." Quistis said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yes, but don't worry your pretty little empty head. If you're with me, nobody will dare touch me." Seifer said with a shrug.

"... Fine. But no starting fights! No acting male and throwing your weight around. No seducing female cadets. And try to keep a low profile?"

"Always do, sweets." Seifer replied with a grin.

Quistis wondered what she was getting herself into...



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

^^; I know, complete change of gears. But hey, what the hell. What will happen when Quistis shows up, Seifer in tow, back to the garden? Will Cid and Edea allow them to rebuild the orphanage?

Things may seem all Honkey-dory now, but just you people wait until the next chapter... heh.... I have some Eeeeeeeeeeevil plans. Evil i tell you! Sheer evil! Mwhwhahahhahahhahahhahhahhaha!!!!!!

ahem. Next chapter should be up today or tomorrow...