Disclaimer: -sigh- For the last time, I do *not* own the characters of
FFVIII.
Author's Notes: Well, here it is, the last chapter. Isn't it sad? -sniffle- But... all good things must come to an end. Hopefully this chapter will be just as good as the others, and I hope you enjoy the way it ends. Don't forget to review!!
The question seemed to hang in the air for quite some time before any words came out of the strangely familiar woman's rosy lips. "I'm very sorry. This must be very awkward for you..." Her voice struck Akira like a slap across the face. She recognized it from the phone call she'd recieved on her birthday.
"M-Mom?" Akira stuttered. She couldn't find anymore words to say.
Terra smiled warmly and reached out to push the hair behind Akira's ear, but she jerked away quickly. Terra's eyes flashed confusion. "What's the matter?"
"What are you doing here?" she hissed. Her emerald eyes were narrowed in a threatening manner.
"I'm here to talk to you... and your father. Where is he?" Terra looked around the room, searching for Seifer, but Akira's voice cut into her concentration and her gaze fell back to the blonde standing in front of her.
"What do you wanna talk about?" She crossed her arms and pursed her lips, awaiting a response.
Terra sighed. "You're just like your father..." she muttered under her breath.
Akira scoffed loudly. "How would *you* know? You haven't been here." Akira's raised voice caused people to stare, Squall being one of those people.
"Akira, please..."
Squall stepped towards them and placed a hand gently on Akira's shoulder. "What's going on here Akira?"
"It's nothing." She looked over at him and saw he wasn't convinced. Something about this woman was odd, and he didn't like it. "Really," she insisted.
"Fine."
Akira turned back to face the pleading woman again. "Please sweetie? I just want to talk to you and your dad. It won't take long, I promise."
"Come on. He's over here." Akira walked in front of Terra as she led her to the back of the room, where Seifer and Quistis were standing, each holding a glass of wine in their hand. Seifer turned as he saw his daughter approaching and smiled, but as he caught sight of Terra walking behind her, his face grew set and cold.
"Who is that?" Quistis asked quietly, noticing Seifer's change in mood.
Before Seifer could reply, Terra and Akira were already standing before him. "What are you doing? You have no business here and you know that."
"Seifer... I disagree with our daughter being a soldier."
Quistis's blue eyes widened a bit. "This is Akira's mother?" Seifer nodded.
"Yes, I *am* her mother," Terra replied sharply. "And I think it's totally ridiculous for a beautiful young lady like Akira to be some mercenary who kills, no, *murders* for a living!"
Seifer shook his head. "I can't believe this... You don't come around for eighteen years and when you finally *do* decide to show up, you try and tell me how to raise her when she's already grown up. You're a little late Terra. And this is something she wanted to do. I'm not going to deprive her of something that she really wants."
"Well how would you feel if she went off and was killed? Wouldn't you regret letting her "do what she wanted to do"?"
Seifer couldn't find the words to reply, but Akira did. "Well then that's my problem. *I* decided to become a SeeD knowing what my fate would be and what the possibilites were. If anything were to happen to me, it wouldn't be his fault. It wouldn't be anyone's fault. But I could also get the chance to defend Balamb Garden when it needs me to. I think that would be the greatest accomplishment ever. Don't you?"
"Of course it is. I never said it wasn't. It's just... when I found out you became a SeeD, I thought about something happening to you without me having been there your whole life. It got me thinking. So that's why I needed to come talk to you." She turned to Seifer. "And you."
Seifer nodded. "I understand."
"Well then, why don't you come and visit me? I'm sure it isn't too late for us to get to know each other and stuff," Akira said. "Right Dad?"
"Um... yeah. I guess that would be all right." Seifer sounded hesitant, but if Akira wanted to begin a relationship with her mother, he wouldn't try to stop her.
Terra's eyes became slightly glassy and she quickly blinked the unshed tears away, a warm smile appreaing on her face. "I'd... like to talk to you in private after the party." She turned to Seifer. "Would that be all right?"
He glanced down at Akira and she gave a nod. "It's fine."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Akira and Terra sat in the quiet dorm room, with only the sound of crickets outside accompanying the sound of their hushed voices as they spoke.
"Akira... I want to apologize for being a terribe mother. I know saying I'm sorry isn't going to change anything, but... I just want you to know that I didn't just leave you with your father because I didn't love you. Doing so was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. But I already had children, and... I just felt that he'd be a better parent to you than I ever could have."
"Other children? So I have step-siblings?" Akira asked.
Terra was almost afraid to respond. "...Yes. You have an older brother Raiden and an older sister Meghan. Raiden lives with his father in Esthar, and Meghan lives with hers in Trabia."
"You mean... they don't have the same father either?"
Terra shook her head in shame. "No... I was so young and careless. But that was no excuse. I still should have known right from wrong, no matter how "young" or "careless" I was. Akira, please don't be like I was. Use your head and don't do things just for the sake of being liked. You don't need anyone in this world. All you need is you. Just... promise me you'll remember that, all right?"
"You came here to tell me that?" Akira asked with a raised eyebrow. "You make it sound like I'm never going to see you again. I told you, we can do mother-daughter stuff together whenever you want. Just because Dad's gonna be dating Quistis doesn't make a difference."
More tears welled up in Terra's eyes, but this time, she let them fall down her cheeks and she began sobbing uncontrollably. "What's... What's the matter?"
Terra looked straight into her daughter's eyes, her vision of her blurred beyond recgonition. "I'm not going to be around much longer Akira," she replied.
Akira's features twisted in confusion. "What do you mean? You don't have to go anywhere. You can stay in Balamb; it's not even a mile away."
"No, I don't mean that. I mean... I'm dying."
"What?!"
"I have cancer. In fact, I've had it for a long time, and the doctor's say I only have around a week left. That's really why I wanted to come here so suddenly and say all of this. I won't get the chance to later." Tears were now streaming down both women's faces. Akira hated to cry. She tried her hardest not to ever do such a weakening thing, but now, she couldn't seem to help it. She wasn't sobbing, but tears were simply rolling down her cheeks as she heard the words being projected toward her.
"I... I don't know what to say," Akira replied. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, that probably wasn't the right thing to even say..."
Terra placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled a little. "No, it's fine. I know it must be hard to hear, and even harder because you don't know me that well, even if I *am* your mother. But don't worry. You really don't have to say anything."
"Yes I do. You're my Mom. And whether or not I know you well, I don't want you to... die." Akira found it hard to talk about it. But why? It wasn't like Terra had been there for her at all, but still... She was her family. She gave her life, and now her's was being taken from her for no good reason.
"I know. And I'm sorry for springing this on you like this. I shouldn't have even come..."
Akira grasped her hand almost desperately. "No, don't say that. I'm glad you did. If not, I wouldn't have been able to know that my Mom wasn't really as bad as I thought she was. At least I'll be able to know you a little better before..." She sighed, not being able to continue. "Does Dad know?"
"No, not yet. I have to tell him right away... But I'm so afraid to. I really don't know him that well either, to tell you the truth."
"He'll understand. He may seem arrogant sometimes, but he really isn't. He's a great guy," she said. "And a great dad."
Terra smiled and gave Akira a pat on the shoulder. Then, she glanced at the clock. "Two-thirty already? I have to go talk to Seifer, or else I'll never get the courage to again. Wish me luck."
Akira smiled. "You don't need it. But good luck."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Seifer gave Akira's hand a gentle squeeze. She turned her head to look up at him. "You all right?" he murmured.
She nodded and turned back to face the front of the room. "Yeah, I'm okay." She was trying to drown out the words of the minister, who was saying what a wonderful person Terra had been during her short life on earth. It's not that any of it wasn't true, she supposed, but what bothered her was there were so many other people in that church, sobbing and sniffling, but Akira was doing neither. Her eyes had glassed over a few times, but no tears ever fell. She felt like she didn't belong there, mourning a woman who she hardly even knew. And the awful part was... that was her own mother lying in that coffin.
"Seifer and Akira Almasy." The minister was calling out names to go up and give a final goodbye before everyone went to the cemetary for the funeral. Akira gave her father a quick glance and they both stood up, making their way up towards the open casket at the front of the cathedral- like room.
Akira held her breath and walked up to the side of the casket, placing her hands warily on the side of it. She looked closely at Terra's motionless figure lying on a blanket of satin. She looked so beautiful, but more so, she looked peaceful. It was almost as if she was sleeping, and not dead.
"I'm..." Akira began to speak in a whisper, but her voice cracked as she got out the very first word. She felt Seifer place a hand on her shoulder, giving her the slightest bit of courage to go on. "I'm really sorry I didn't get the chance to know you better... Mom. I love you."
This isn't supposed to be happening, she thought. I'm not supposed to cry like this. I'm not supposed to feel this way. But they why am I? Thoughts screamed through her head even as she and Seifer left the room and went outside to wait for everyone else to emerge.
"That was very beautiful," Seifer told her as they leaned against the stone church wall.
"Really?" she asked, sounding surprised.
Seifer reached out and wiped the wetness from her face, taking her in his arms and holding her in a tight embrace. "Of course. You were so brave Akira. I'm very proud of you."
She held onto him tight and buried her face in his chest. "Don't say that. I got up there and said all those wonderful things without even knowing if I meant it or not. I didn't even know her and she was my mother. How can you be so proud of me? Anybody could say things like that and not sob when they didn't know the person."
Seifer held her out at arm's length, emerald eyes wide. "Akira Almasy... This has nothing to do with that. I'm not proud of you because you hardly cried. Crying doesn't make someone weak. I'm proud of you because you said what you felt, and I know you meant it. I know it didn't help that you only knew her for a very short period of time, but you did what you wanted to do despite that. *That's* why I'm proud of you."
Akira's lips curled upward into a small smile. "Thanks Dad. I appreciate that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A soft knock came on Seifer's door, and when he beckoned them inside, Quistis was there. "Is it okay if I talk to you for a little while? I know you might want to be alone, so..."
"No, no, it's fine. What did you want to talk about?"
Quistis looked uncomfortable. "Well, I sort of wanted to know... how everything went today. Akira didn't quite seem herself when the two of you came back, and neither do you. Are you okay?"
"I'll live. Akira was just upset about being there when she didn't know Terra that long. She felt like she wasn't supposed to be there and that she didn't belong."
"Well you told her differently didn't you?" Quistis asked.
"Of course I did," Seifer replied. "And I thought she was okay again. What makes you say she was acting different?"
"Well, I don't know. She seemed really withdrawn, that's all. But of course, that's to be expected. Her mother just passed away, and whether she knew her well or not, it's still very hard to deal with."
"She just needs some time. She knows that she can always talk to me whenever she wants to, so I'm not going to push her. She can come to me. I think it's better that way."
Quistis nodded her agreement. "You know a mission for SeeD has just been assigned, right?"
"That seemed a little random," Seifer said with a chuckle. "But yeah... I know about it."
"Are you going to be okay?" Quistis asked placing a hand on his arm.
Seifer sighed. "I don't know... I'm going to worry like hell until she gets back, that's for damn sure. But... she's a SeeD now. I can't stop her from doing anything anymore, really."
"They grow up so fast don't they?"
"Got that right. And now with everything that's happened... I just hope she's gonna be okay. I don't want her getting killed because she's too busy thinking about the trauma of her personal life."
"There's nothing to worry about. Your daughter is an excellent soldier, and she has a good head on her shoulders. She'll be just fine. And they usually don't make the first SeeD missions very difficult anyway."
"Quistis, might I remind you of the first SeeD mission for our generation?"
"All right, so they can get tough the first time around, but everything turned out fine. Even you, and you weren't even a SeeD."
"Ah, you're right. Listen to me, worrying over something I probably don't even have to worry about. Just call me Squall."
Quistis laughed quietly at the words, and caught sight of the clock at the same time. "My, after midnight already? I should let you get to bed. You've had a busy day."
"All right then. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Seifer." Quistis made her way to the door, but stopped right before she left. She turned back around and placed a soft kiss on Seifer's lips. Then she left.
Well, there you have it. I decided to end it on a little Queifer-ish note there. Does it look like there's a sequel on the way? Could be... If you have suggestions lemme know. If not, I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something ^_~ And also, on a much more serious note, I'd like to dedicate this chapter specifically to my grandfather who passed away just this last summer from lung cancer. May he find peace in heaven and never feel pain again. I love you Pap.
Author's Notes: Well, here it is, the last chapter. Isn't it sad? -sniffle- But... all good things must come to an end. Hopefully this chapter will be just as good as the others, and I hope you enjoy the way it ends. Don't forget to review!!
The question seemed to hang in the air for quite some time before any words came out of the strangely familiar woman's rosy lips. "I'm very sorry. This must be very awkward for you..." Her voice struck Akira like a slap across the face. She recognized it from the phone call she'd recieved on her birthday.
"M-Mom?" Akira stuttered. She couldn't find anymore words to say.
Terra smiled warmly and reached out to push the hair behind Akira's ear, but she jerked away quickly. Terra's eyes flashed confusion. "What's the matter?"
"What are you doing here?" she hissed. Her emerald eyes were narrowed in a threatening manner.
"I'm here to talk to you... and your father. Where is he?" Terra looked around the room, searching for Seifer, but Akira's voice cut into her concentration and her gaze fell back to the blonde standing in front of her.
"What do you wanna talk about?" She crossed her arms and pursed her lips, awaiting a response.
Terra sighed. "You're just like your father..." she muttered under her breath.
Akira scoffed loudly. "How would *you* know? You haven't been here." Akira's raised voice caused people to stare, Squall being one of those people.
"Akira, please..."
Squall stepped towards them and placed a hand gently on Akira's shoulder. "What's going on here Akira?"
"It's nothing." She looked over at him and saw he wasn't convinced. Something about this woman was odd, and he didn't like it. "Really," she insisted.
"Fine."
Akira turned back to face the pleading woman again. "Please sweetie? I just want to talk to you and your dad. It won't take long, I promise."
"Come on. He's over here." Akira walked in front of Terra as she led her to the back of the room, where Seifer and Quistis were standing, each holding a glass of wine in their hand. Seifer turned as he saw his daughter approaching and smiled, but as he caught sight of Terra walking behind her, his face grew set and cold.
"Who is that?" Quistis asked quietly, noticing Seifer's change in mood.
Before Seifer could reply, Terra and Akira were already standing before him. "What are you doing? You have no business here and you know that."
"Seifer... I disagree with our daughter being a soldier."
Quistis's blue eyes widened a bit. "This is Akira's mother?" Seifer nodded.
"Yes, I *am* her mother," Terra replied sharply. "And I think it's totally ridiculous for a beautiful young lady like Akira to be some mercenary who kills, no, *murders* for a living!"
Seifer shook his head. "I can't believe this... You don't come around for eighteen years and when you finally *do* decide to show up, you try and tell me how to raise her when she's already grown up. You're a little late Terra. And this is something she wanted to do. I'm not going to deprive her of something that she really wants."
"Well how would you feel if she went off and was killed? Wouldn't you regret letting her "do what she wanted to do"?"
Seifer couldn't find the words to reply, but Akira did. "Well then that's my problem. *I* decided to become a SeeD knowing what my fate would be and what the possibilites were. If anything were to happen to me, it wouldn't be his fault. It wouldn't be anyone's fault. But I could also get the chance to defend Balamb Garden when it needs me to. I think that would be the greatest accomplishment ever. Don't you?"
"Of course it is. I never said it wasn't. It's just... when I found out you became a SeeD, I thought about something happening to you without me having been there your whole life. It got me thinking. So that's why I needed to come talk to you." She turned to Seifer. "And you."
Seifer nodded. "I understand."
"Well then, why don't you come and visit me? I'm sure it isn't too late for us to get to know each other and stuff," Akira said. "Right Dad?"
"Um... yeah. I guess that would be all right." Seifer sounded hesitant, but if Akira wanted to begin a relationship with her mother, he wouldn't try to stop her.
Terra's eyes became slightly glassy and she quickly blinked the unshed tears away, a warm smile appreaing on her face. "I'd... like to talk to you in private after the party." She turned to Seifer. "Would that be all right?"
He glanced down at Akira and she gave a nod. "It's fine."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Akira and Terra sat in the quiet dorm room, with only the sound of crickets outside accompanying the sound of their hushed voices as they spoke.
"Akira... I want to apologize for being a terribe mother. I know saying I'm sorry isn't going to change anything, but... I just want you to know that I didn't just leave you with your father because I didn't love you. Doing so was the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. But I already had children, and... I just felt that he'd be a better parent to you than I ever could have."
"Other children? So I have step-siblings?" Akira asked.
Terra was almost afraid to respond. "...Yes. You have an older brother Raiden and an older sister Meghan. Raiden lives with his father in Esthar, and Meghan lives with hers in Trabia."
"You mean... they don't have the same father either?"
Terra shook her head in shame. "No... I was so young and careless. But that was no excuse. I still should have known right from wrong, no matter how "young" or "careless" I was. Akira, please don't be like I was. Use your head and don't do things just for the sake of being liked. You don't need anyone in this world. All you need is you. Just... promise me you'll remember that, all right?"
"You came here to tell me that?" Akira asked with a raised eyebrow. "You make it sound like I'm never going to see you again. I told you, we can do mother-daughter stuff together whenever you want. Just because Dad's gonna be dating Quistis doesn't make a difference."
More tears welled up in Terra's eyes, but this time, she let them fall down her cheeks and she began sobbing uncontrollably. "What's... What's the matter?"
Terra looked straight into her daughter's eyes, her vision of her blurred beyond recgonition. "I'm not going to be around much longer Akira," she replied.
Akira's features twisted in confusion. "What do you mean? You don't have to go anywhere. You can stay in Balamb; it's not even a mile away."
"No, I don't mean that. I mean... I'm dying."
"What?!"
"I have cancer. In fact, I've had it for a long time, and the doctor's say I only have around a week left. That's really why I wanted to come here so suddenly and say all of this. I won't get the chance to later." Tears were now streaming down both women's faces. Akira hated to cry. She tried her hardest not to ever do such a weakening thing, but now, she couldn't seem to help it. She wasn't sobbing, but tears were simply rolling down her cheeks as she heard the words being projected toward her.
"I... I don't know what to say," Akira replied. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, that probably wasn't the right thing to even say..."
Terra placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled a little. "No, it's fine. I know it must be hard to hear, and even harder because you don't know me that well, even if I *am* your mother. But don't worry. You really don't have to say anything."
"Yes I do. You're my Mom. And whether or not I know you well, I don't want you to... die." Akira found it hard to talk about it. But why? It wasn't like Terra had been there for her at all, but still... She was her family. She gave her life, and now her's was being taken from her for no good reason.
"I know. And I'm sorry for springing this on you like this. I shouldn't have even come..."
Akira grasped her hand almost desperately. "No, don't say that. I'm glad you did. If not, I wouldn't have been able to know that my Mom wasn't really as bad as I thought she was. At least I'll be able to know you a little better before..." She sighed, not being able to continue. "Does Dad know?"
"No, not yet. I have to tell him right away... But I'm so afraid to. I really don't know him that well either, to tell you the truth."
"He'll understand. He may seem arrogant sometimes, but he really isn't. He's a great guy," she said. "And a great dad."
Terra smiled and gave Akira a pat on the shoulder. Then, she glanced at the clock. "Two-thirty already? I have to go talk to Seifer, or else I'll never get the courage to again. Wish me luck."
Akira smiled. "You don't need it. But good luck."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Seifer gave Akira's hand a gentle squeeze. She turned her head to look up at him. "You all right?" he murmured.
She nodded and turned back to face the front of the room. "Yeah, I'm okay." She was trying to drown out the words of the minister, who was saying what a wonderful person Terra had been during her short life on earth. It's not that any of it wasn't true, she supposed, but what bothered her was there were so many other people in that church, sobbing and sniffling, but Akira was doing neither. Her eyes had glassed over a few times, but no tears ever fell. She felt like she didn't belong there, mourning a woman who she hardly even knew. And the awful part was... that was her own mother lying in that coffin.
"Seifer and Akira Almasy." The minister was calling out names to go up and give a final goodbye before everyone went to the cemetary for the funeral. Akira gave her father a quick glance and they both stood up, making their way up towards the open casket at the front of the cathedral- like room.
Akira held her breath and walked up to the side of the casket, placing her hands warily on the side of it. She looked closely at Terra's motionless figure lying on a blanket of satin. She looked so beautiful, but more so, she looked peaceful. It was almost as if she was sleeping, and not dead.
"I'm..." Akira began to speak in a whisper, but her voice cracked as she got out the very first word. She felt Seifer place a hand on her shoulder, giving her the slightest bit of courage to go on. "I'm really sorry I didn't get the chance to know you better... Mom. I love you."
This isn't supposed to be happening, she thought. I'm not supposed to cry like this. I'm not supposed to feel this way. But they why am I? Thoughts screamed through her head even as she and Seifer left the room and went outside to wait for everyone else to emerge.
"That was very beautiful," Seifer told her as they leaned against the stone church wall.
"Really?" she asked, sounding surprised.
Seifer reached out and wiped the wetness from her face, taking her in his arms and holding her in a tight embrace. "Of course. You were so brave Akira. I'm very proud of you."
She held onto him tight and buried her face in his chest. "Don't say that. I got up there and said all those wonderful things without even knowing if I meant it or not. I didn't even know her and she was my mother. How can you be so proud of me? Anybody could say things like that and not sob when they didn't know the person."
Seifer held her out at arm's length, emerald eyes wide. "Akira Almasy... This has nothing to do with that. I'm not proud of you because you hardly cried. Crying doesn't make someone weak. I'm proud of you because you said what you felt, and I know you meant it. I know it didn't help that you only knew her for a very short period of time, but you did what you wanted to do despite that. *That's* why I'm proud of you."
Akira's lips curled upward into a small smile. "Thanks Dad. I appreciate that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A soft knock came on Seifer's door, and when he beckoned them inside, Quistis was there. "Is it okay if I talk to you for a little while? I know you might want to be alone, so..."
"No, no, it's fine. What did you want to talk about?"
Quistis looked uncomfortable. "Well, I sort of wanted to know... how everything went today. Akira didn't quite seem herself when the two of you came back, and neither do you. Are you okay?"
"I'll live. Akira was just upset about being there when she didn't know Terra that long. She felt like she wasn't supposed to be there and that she didn't belong."
"Well you told her differently didn't you?" Quistis asked.
"Of course I did," Seifer replied. "And I thought she was okay again. What makes you say she was acting different?"
"Well, I don't know. She seemed really withdrawn, that's all. But of course, that's to be expected. Her mother just passed away, and whether she knew her well or not, it's still very hard to deal with."
"She just needs some time. She knows that she can always talk to me whenever she wants to, so I'm not going to push her. She can come to me. I think it's better that way."
Quistis nodded her agreement. "You know a mission for SeeD has just been assigned, right?"
"That seemed a little random," Seifer said with a chuckle. "But yeah... I know about it."
"Are you going to be okay?" Quistis asked placing a hand on his arm.
Seifer sighed. "I don't know... I'm going to worry like hell until she gets back, that's for damn sure. But... she's a SeeD now. I can't stop her from doing anything anymore, really."
"They grow up so fast don't they?"
"Got that right. And now with everything that's happened... I just hope she's gonna be okay. I don't want her getting killed because she's too busy thinking about the trauma of her personal life."
"There's nothing to worry about. Your daughter is an excellent soldier, and she has a good head on her shoulders. She'll be just fine. And they usually don't make the first SeeD missions very difficult anyway."
"Quistis, might I remind you of the first SeeD mission for our generation?"
"All right, so they can get tough the first time around, but everything turned out fine. Even you, and you weren't even a SeeD."
"Ah, you're right. Listen to me, worrying over something I probably don't even have to worry about. Just call me Squall."
Quistis laughed quietly at the words, and caught sight of the clock at the same time. "My, after midnight already? I should let you get to bed. You've had a busy day."
"All right then. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Seifer." Quistis made her way to the door, but stopped right before she left. She turned back around and placed a soft kiss on Seifer's lips. Then she left.
Well, there you have it. I decided to end it on a little Queifer-ish note there. Does it look like there's a sequel on the way? Could be... If you have suggestions lemme know. If not, I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something ^_~ And also, on a much more serious note, I'd like to dedicate this chapter specifically to my grandfather who passed away just this last summer from lung cancer. May he find peace in heaven and never feel pain again. I love you Pap.