Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, locations or creatures from Final Fantasy 8 – they all belong to Squaresoft.

Aftermath

Chapter 4

'From Raine Leonhart, Winhill Pub

'To Edea Kramer, Galbadian Army Camp, Monterosa Plateau

'Greetings.'

*****************

Edea had stumbled, exhausted, into her tent, seeking only somewhere quiet and dark to rest. Leading the Galbadian forces against the might of Esthar was taking its toll on both her and Cid. They really needed to get away, pass the reins on to younger minds and bodies, enjoy their married life instead of this constant struggle.

But a small ray of sunshine was awaiting her return. Raine's latest epistle lay on the small collapsing table which Cid & Edea used as a desk as well as a dining table. Tired as she was, Edea eagerly broke the seal and began to read.

*****************

'Edea,' wrote Raine, 'it seems so long since I last wrote, but I know it was only a week ago! As I wrote then, the people here are still giving Laguna a really hard time. He has stayed here out of gratitude to everyone for taking him in, and all he gets is grief. No matter how many monsters he kills, they still look down their noses at him.

'The other day, I asked him to get some messages for me from the shop at the end of town. Mrs Horran's son and daughter-in-law run it now. When he came back he was really upset. Mrs Horran jnr had told him he ought to leave now he's recovered – even said it would be better for me if he went. Interfering old bat! I don't know why he does stay; if I were him, I'd probably have bailed out by now.'

*****************

Edea smiled over the letter. From what Raine had written over the weeks and months since Loire's arrival, she had a fair idea of why the young man hung around. Of course, Raine had never lacked male attention, but she had tended to distrust it in the past.

'They're only after free beer!' she had exclaimed, with her gentle laugh.

This picture of Raine, laughing and carefree, brought a lump to Edea's throat, and she had to close her eyes and breathe deeply for several seconds before the threat of tears passed. This happy image contrasted so starkly with the last time she had seen the younger woman in the flesh, her face pinched with weariness, anguish and grief. There had been no time for Edea to comfort her friend in the rush and urgency of escape, of course; even Edea acknowledged that. Even so, and despite Raine's assurances, she had spent many hours replaying the events of that night, sure that somehow she could have found five minutes, even five seconds, to mourn old Leonhart's passing with his daughter.

She shook her head to clear the clinging cobwebs of memory. That all lay in the past. What mattered now was the present and the future, both of which looked brighter since Senet's awakening. She turned her attention back to the pages in front of her.

*****************

'One morning, a few days ago, I was clearing out the bar as usual, ready for the lunchtime crowd. It's harvest time again, so they come in thirstier than ever from the dust and heat of the fields! I don't know what the town would do if I decided to leave – there's no one else who could run this place. Perhaps I should get someone in, someone to train up. Even if I don't leave, I won't be here forever, will I? And I can't imagine Ellone wanting to live her life out here.

'Anyway, on with the story. As I say, I was clearing away the glasses from the night before, when a complete stranger walked into the bar. He was the most exotic man I've ever seen. He had dark skin, and hair and eyes, and his hair was all done in thin plaits. He wore the strangest clothes, part jacket and pants, part some sort of mini-armour, and he had these two short swords or daggers in his waistband.

'He said his name was "Kiros Seagul" and that he was looking for Laguna. Well, I might have just sent him away with a flea in his ear, if you hadn't told me what you found out about Laguna's history. I can't believe he never told me about Kiros and Ward – I mean, from what you said, they were inseparable.

'"I'll just go and get him," I said, when Ellone popped up out of nowhere!

'"I'll get Uncle Laguna!" she cried, and before I could stop her, she was out of the door and into the jaws of a monster, as far as I knew.

'Well, I rushed to the door, to fetch her back, but she was just disappearing into Laguna's house when I got outside. She was completely unharmed. Honestly, that child will be the death of me! I worry about her constantly, but she seems to lead a charmed existence.

'So, Kiros and I tried to make small talk, and not to think about what could happen to a little girl in a world infested with monsters, when Ellone suddenly burst back into the bar.

'"Ellone!" I yelled, angry and relieved at the same time. "That was a very naughty, and irresponsible thing to do! Anything could have happened to you! How many times have you promised not to run off like that? I'm very angry with you. Do you understand, Ellone? Now go to your room and play."

'Laguna had arrived meanwhile, and Ellone said to him, in that cutesy baby voice which drives me mental, "I got in twouble."

'"That's 'cause you broke your promise. Too baaaad..." Laguna replied.

'Hyne, he's infuriating! He encourages her slang and baby talk, no matter how many times I tell him not too. I spent months getting her to talk properly, then he comes along and spoils it all! Although, to be fair, she never uses that language or tone when she's speaking directly to me. But the fact that she uses it at all is still annoying.

'So, for the umpteenth time I said, "Laguna! Use proper English when you're speaking to Ellone!"

'And then, stone me, if he doesn't go and do it again!

'"I got'n trouble," he said to Ellone.

'"Toooo baaaddd!" she responded, and then hid behind Laguna before I could explode completely.

'Sometimes its like having two kids in the house with Laguna Loire around. Talking of kids, I think it's a wonderful idea for you and Cid to adopt – or even run an entire orphanage! Hyne knows, there are enough kids without parents, even here in Winhill. Of course, Ellone has people to take care of her, but there are others, like Senet, who have no one.

*****************

The mention of Senet made Edea drop the letter into her lap once more. Despite all she and Cid could say, Senet was determined to stay where he was. All Edea's arguments of exploring his powers and growing up in what she termed a 'more suitable environment' fell on deaf ears.

'Honestly, Edea, I really appreciate everything that you're offering,' he said, in that calm unruffled way of his, 'but how do I know if it's what's right for me? What if I went with you, and it didn't work out? Where would I go, then?'

There was no answer to such a question. Even saying that 'what if?' worked both ways produced nothing but a gentle, infuriating, smile. Yes, it might be proved that he had powers to rival any Sorceress, but what then? If life was difficult for Edea, what would it be for him? Better to live his life honestly as a kitchen boy, than hiding as a freak.

And she told him that she understood, even though she didn't – not really. His arguments made sense, she had to admit that, but she was baffled by his unwillingness even to explore what he had. Nevertheless, he was resolute. He would not leave the Monterosa Plateau in search of ifs and maybes, and there was no chance of seeking to understand his powers where he was.

Edea might not understand his decision, but she had no alternative but to accept it. They had spend a last day together, just Senet and Edea, on the beach near the town, building sandcastles and running barefoot through the waves. For both of them, it was a rare moment to just have fun, and to forget their cares for a little while. It was just one more bittersweet memory for Edea to store up for the future.

With a heavy heart, she returned to Raine's letter.

*****************

'Well, then Kiros and Laguna started chatting, you know, about the things they've been through. Turns out they were chased out of some Estarian base, barely escaped with their lives, on Centra. It was quite exciting really – I saw a side of Laguna I've never seen before. He was so relaxed, talking to his old army buddy, swapping jokes and memories.

'Then he asked how Ward was doing. He's a janitor, apparently, in that prison in the desert. Then I got the shock of my life – Laguna asked about Julia. You know, the singer who wrote that song 'Eyes on Me'? It's supposed to have been written for her long lost love who went off to war and never came back. Anyway, it turns out that Laguna really had a thing for this Julia, even chatted to her, once. Isn't it weird; you just think you're getting to know someone, and then you find out something completely unexpected about them!

'Kiros has been here ever since, helping Laguna with his monster patrols. I think he's trying to persuade Laguna to move on, or at least to seriously consider his future. Funnily enough, Ellone made me consider my future the other day. She asked me straight out if I was going to marry Laguna. I tried to put her off, explaining all the reasons it wouldn't be a good idea, but she just kept telling me why it is a good idea.

'I'm so confused, Edea! I've never felt this way about anyone, before – but he's such a twerp! I know his dream was to be a journalist, yet he ends up here, fighting monsters and risking losing a hand – or worse. And he snores, and talks in his sleep! Yet I can't stop thinking about him, and worrying about him. My day brightens up when he enters a room, and clouds over when he's not there. I just wish I knew how he felt……….

'OK, that's enough rambling for this week. Write to me soon, and let me know your plans, so I have some idea of where to send my next letter!

Bye for now.

*****************

Edea wished there were some way of divining Loire's feelings, so that she could put Raine's mind at rest one way or the other. Unfortunately, that kind of knowledge was not one of her gifts. Raine would just have to work it out for herself.

A/N: If you review my work, you will earn my undying gratitude, and I promise to read and review your work asap. I welcome all criticism, bad as well as good, but please try to be constructive! Thank-you for reading.

BTW – is anyone irritated by the story being interspersed with the letter? Or does it help, knowing Edea's thoughts whilst she's reading?

Oh, and I know Cid doesn't seem to feature largely in this fic, but that's because the important relationship here is the one between Edea and Raine. There is no feminist anti-male conspiracy going on here, it's just that I wanted to explore the dynamics of a female-female relationship. Just flexing the old writing muscles, you know!