Disclaimer: I don't own FF8...

Author's Note: Sorry for the cliffy at the end of the last chapter, but I like keeping you all in suspense! This chapter is dedicated to Summoneryuna for reviewing this fic so many times. If you haven't read her fic "Torn By Two Knights" you should read it right now. It's great! For those of you who have been hoping to see a nicer Quistis, then I hope that you like this chapter. I promised you that there would be a lot of mushiness in this chapter and there is, so read on!

Never Free

Chapter 11- Revealed Feelings

Where am I...? Rinoa blinked a few times and her eyes started to focus. She was laying down on what appeared to be a hospital bed. An IV was hooked up to her right arm. She turned to her left and saw that her arm was bandaged up. I'm in a hospital...but...why?

"Oh, you're awake!" A female voice exclaimed.

Rinoa turned her head to see who the voice belonged to. It had sounded familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. When she saw the woman who was sitting next to her, she had to rub her eyes a couple of times to make sure she was seeing right. "Quistis? What's going on?"

Quistis sighed. "Where do I start? There's so much that I need to tell you..."

"Um, Quistis, correct me if I'm wrong, but...don't you hate me? Why are you here?"

"I don't hate you, Rinoa...I never have. I-"

"Well, from what I remember, it sure seemed to me like you did."

"Rinoa, please, just hear me out. I've never exactly been nice to you, and I realize that, but it wasn't because I hate you. It was because I was...jealous. Jealous of you and Squall, and what I could never have... Rinoa, I'm so sorry that I treated you so badly. I've finally realized that you and Squall are meant for each other." She smiled. "I also wanted to tell you that what you did for Squall was amazing. I don't think I'd ever be able to do something like that."

"Thanks, Quistis." She held out her right hand. "Truce?"

"Truce." Quistis smiled. "I'm so glad that you're alright. Thank God that bullet only grazed your shoulder."

"What exactly happened?" Rinoa asked. "The last thing I remember is seeing Irvine ready to pull the trigger and then I jumped in front of Squall."

"That was amazing! After you jumped in front of Squall, the gun had already been fired, but the bullet only grazed your shoulder. Seifer was able to get a hold of Irvine and he is now in our custody." She explained.

"What about Squall? Is he alright?" Rinoa asked anxiously.

"Yes, he's fine, thanks to you. He's here, at the hospital, but Cid is talking to him downstairs. He wanted to stay with you, but Cid really needed to see him."

"Quistis, I'm really sorry about Squall. I never meant to 'steal' him from you."

"Don't be ridiculous, Rinoa. I've finally come to terms with my feelings and I'm not in love with Squall. It was just a foolish crush. Besides, I think I might be falling for someone..."

"Who? Come on, you can tell me!"

Quistis laughed. "I know, but not here. You never know who could be listening..." They both started to laugh.

"Rinoa?!" Both Quistis and Rinoa looked up at the sound of Squall's voice. "Quistis hasn't been bothering you, has she?"

"No, of course not! We were able to work out our differences. Thanks for staying with me, Quistis." Rinoa said.

"No problem. I'll see you around, okay?" She waved and left the room.

Squall sat down in the seat that Quistis had just occupied. "How are you feeling?" He asked softly.

"Alright. My arm's pretty sore, though." She smiled. "It's a small price to pay, knowing that you're safe."

Squall held Rinoa's hand gently. "You shouldn't have done it Rinoa... What if I had lost you?"

"But you didn't loose me. Squall, he was going to kill you! I wasn't about to stand there and watch you die!" She exclaimed.

"I would have never forgiven myself if something had happened to you." He gently brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. "Rinoa, I need to tell you something..." He gazed intently into her eyes. "I...I think I'm in love with you." He paused. "No, not think. I know that I'm in love with you. I love you, Rinoa. You're everything to me."

Rinoa's heart melted at Squall's words, and tears filled her eyes. "Squall, you don't know how long I've been wishing that you would say those words." She smiled. "I love you, too, Squall. I think that I've loved you all along...from the moment I first looked into your eyes when you caught me in the basement. I don't care about protocol...all that matters to me is being with you..."

Squall smiled. "You're my angel." He leaned over and kissed Rinoa softly, then deeper, as both gave into feelings that they had kept in for a long time. Neither of them ever wanted that kiss to end, but they were interrupted by someone clearing his throat. Rinoa and Squall both looked up guiltily, and Rinoa turned crimson when she saw that the person who had just entered the room was her father.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Rinoa asked, trying to ignore the fact that her father had just caught her kissing Squall.

"Cid informed me of what happened. I came here to see how you were doing, but obviously you're feeling pretty healthy." Caraway commented as Rinoa's face turned red again.

"Un, Squall, will you give me a few minutes with my father, please?"

He nodded. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, I'll be fine. I'll see you later, okay?" She paused, then said. "I love you."

Squall was very surprised to hear Rinoa say those words in front of her father. But who cares what he thinks? Why shouldn't he know how I feel? Squall smiled. "I love you too, Rinoa." He kissed the top of her head, and left the room, avoiding Caraway's gaze.

"Rinoa..." Caraway said.

"Dad, don't. Please. No matter what you say to me, it's not going to change how I feel about Squall."

"I just wanted to tell you that I've finally realized that. No matter what I try to do, I can see that you and Squall are in love and I'm not going to take that happiness away from you." Caraway told her.

"Are you serious?" Rinoa asked, completely shocked.

"Yes...I am. I won't tell Cid about this, although I'm pretty sure that he already has a pretty good idea of what's going on."

"Thank you, Dad." Rinoa said sincerely as she gripped his hand.

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"Irvine Kinneas? My name is Squall Leonhart. I'm an agent for Balamb Garden."

"I know who you are." Irvine said, annoyed. "I want to know why I'm here and what Rinoa has to do with it all."

"I'm sure that Rinoa will want to explain everything to you, but she's with her father right now, so that's going to have to wait." He paused. "As for why you are here, Rinoa's life is in your hands, so to speak."

"What are you talking about?" Irvine asked, clearly confused.

"Irvine, you're probably not going to believe a word I tell you, but you need to listen to me. Galbadia is not what you think it is. they have led you to believe that Balamb is the enemy when, in fact, it is the other way around. Galbadia needs to be stopped." Squall explained.

"I don't believe a word you're saying. I need to talk to Rinoa! Where is she?"

Squall sighed. "Alright, alright, I'll see if Rinoa is up to seeing you. Don't try anything while I'm gone." Squall said as he left the room.

What the hell is going on here? Who is Rinoa really working for...?

Author's Note: Make my day and review!