Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, SquareSoft owns the rights, this story is not authorized by them, etc.




Chapter 16: Ghost Story
Setting: Balamb Garden, Third Floor
One Month Later



Squall stepped out of his office, a confused look on his face. As he walked toward Cid's door, Bowler looked up from his desk and said, "Go right in, sir."

Squall glanced at the young man and raised an eyebrow. Whatever, he thought. The longer SeeD Bowler Fisk spent as Cid's assistant, the more cocky he was becoming. It would be getting on Squall's nerves, if he'd actually cared. Without a word, he opened Cid's door and stepped inside.

Cid was sitting behind his desk, which was situated next to the elevator leading up to the bridge. When he saw Squall, he stood up tiredly.

Squall glanced up at the platform, and was surprised to see no one was there. As they were currently cruising across the ocean toward Galbadia, Squall did not expect to the controls unmanned.

Cid, noticing his concern, said, "It's okay, I had Nida put it on autopilot and take a break. He won't be back until we're done."

Squall nodded, and walked up to Cid's desk. He saluted his superior, saying, "You wanted to see me, sir?"

Cid nodded. "Sit down, son."

Squall sat in the chair a bit stiffly. Cid's summons had been...strange, to say the least. He hadn't said what was going on, and had actually sounded very uncomfortable even speaking to him at all. And Garden flying without a pilot, so we could have privacy. Somehow, Squall thought, I have a bad feeling about this.

Cid sat into his seat as he exhaled. Or, perhaps it was a heavy sigh, Squall wasn't sure. Hesitantly, Cid started, "Squall, there have been some...strange rumors floating around Garden. They've been brought to my attention, and I wouldn't even mention them to you, except that so many people have been saying..." Cid removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I can't even believe I'm speaking to you about this."

"What? What is it?" Squall leaned forward, frowning.

"Squall, people have been seeing...I don't know...strange things lately. Actually, one strange thing, but over and over again. I know this is probably a touchy subject with you, considering what's happened to you in the past couple months but...Squall, we've had complaints...of people seeing a ghost."

Squall practically jumped in his chair. His eyes widened. Oh my God...they're seeing Rinoa!

Cid raised his eyebrows at Squall's reaction. "Squall, are you all right? I haven't even told you whose ghost it was."

"I can guess," said Squall in a low voice, sinking back into the chair.

Cid nodded and put his glasses back on. "I've had probably seven reports of it since the end of last month. Seven times, people have sworn they've seen your...seen Rinoa, either walking the halls alone, with you, or with your daughter. I know, I know," continued Cid as Squall tried to interrupt, "they're mistaken. That is, unless...Squall, you haven't been using a holographic projector, have you?"

Squall knitted his brow and stiffened in the seat. "No, sir! I...I miss her, but I wouldn't do anything like that."

Cid nodded again. "I didn't think so. You doing something like that, that would mean...well, you can guess what that would mean. I'm glad that's not the case, though. At any rate, if these rumors are causing you any problems, you know you can always talk to me. Or Doctor Kadowaki."

Squall looked away. Cid was trying to be diplomatic, but he was essentially claiming Squall would become neurotic over this. Or maybe even psychotic. Then again, thought Squall, I could always tell him the truth. Then he really would think I'm psychotic.

"Squall? Is everything all right?"

Squall straightened up and made eye contact with Cid. "Yes, sir. I'm fine."

Cid examined the young man top to bottom. Squall shifted slightly in his chair, becoming even more uncomfortable under the older man's gaze.

"Ok, then," Cid finally replied. "Dismissed."

Squall stood and, after saluting the Headmaster, walked briskly out of the office. He was slightly concerned that his quick pace would catch the older man's attention, but he didn't care. He just needed to go somewhere quickly and think. They were going to have to do something about this. Soon.

Squall rushed back into his office and, after locking the door behind him, reclined on the sofa against the wall. He rubbed his temples, attempting to massage his brain into action.

"Hey, Squall!"

Squall looked up and saw Rinoa standing over him, her hands folded behind her back, and a big grin on her face. Her form shimmered as it always had during her visits to the living world. Squall managed a weak smile and nodded, before lowering his head again.

"Squall," Rinoa said, her grin fading. "What's wrong?"

Squall sighed. How am I gonna say this without sounding accusing?

"Squall, I know you can hear me," said Rinoa, her voice picking up in volume. "What is wrong?"

"People have been seeing you," Squall muttered.

Rinoa stopped cold. She stared at Squall, struck completely mute. If she'd had a body, her heart would have skipped a beat and her face grown hot. No! How could they have...?

"Have you been wandering around Garden or something?" asked Squall, his arms crossed.

"Well..." hesitated Rinoa. "Yes, I have. But...I mean, I can't just stay in the Crossroad all the time. I want to be with you and Lexie. And when I can't, I just want to be at home. In Garden. Someplace that's familiar and warm..."

Squall's expression changed from concerned to sympathetic. I don't blame her, I just wish she'd be more careful, is all. "I don't mean I don't want you to be here, I just...Rin, I thought you couldn't be visible unless Quisty was helping you."

"I didn't think I was visible, Squall," she replied, kneeling down next to him. Her left knee passed through one of the sofa's legs. "I don't know what's going on, unless Quisty's been doing it without telling me."

Squall looked deeply into her eyes, and was again struck by the desperate desire to hold his wife in his arms. "Maybe she's...practicing, or something?"

"Maybe," Rinoa whispered. She could well see the desperation in Squall's eyes, veiled behind his sympathy.

"I'll go ask her when she's done with her class."

Rinoa nodded. "Yeah, she'd probably look crazy talking to thin air. Or worse, imagine if a whole class full of students suddenly saw a dead Instructor talking back to her." She made a spooky whistling sound and held her hands up, pretending she had claws on her fingers. Squall couldn't help but chuckle at her silliness.

Rinoa grinned. "There's that smile."

Squall shook his head, trying to control his quiet laughter. "Seriously, though, we need to figure this out. We don't want everyone finding out about you."

Rinoa's smile drooped into a pout. "Oh...right, of course not." She turned away, staring out the window at the wind-swept grassy fields beyond. Her hands fell limply to her sides, as if in defeat.

"Rinoa?" Squall stood up and tried to move his head around to look at her face. Rinoa turned farther away, her eyes closed.

"Rin, what's...wrong?"

Rinoa sighed and shook her head. "I hope you mean '...besides the obvious.'"

Squall opened his mouth to reply, but his voice seized in his throat. Why are you so upset all of a sudden?

"Squall, why would it be so bad if everyone knew about me? At least our friends?"

"I...I..." stammered Squall. Why would it? I guess I didn't think when I said that.

Rinoa's shoulders shrugged as she drew in a heavy breath. "Squall, I..."

Suddenly, Rinoa's form began to fade from view. Before she could turn around to look at Squall again, she vanished completely.

Squall gasped. He held his hand out to the spot where she had stood a second before. "Rin?" he said. "Rin, what happened? Are you there? Rinoa!"

The only response was the whistle of a wind gust that seemed to chuckle evilly as it struck the window.

*

Quistis' pen slipped out of her hand as she felt a chill roll up her spine. She looked up with a start, scanning over the classroom. The students were all engrossed with their homework or whatever web pages they were browsing on their terminals. Several students that she recognized as Trepies immediately looked down when they saw her gaze upon them.

That's...strange, she thought. I thought I just heard someone cackling in my ear. But nobody left their seats.

She took one more glance around the room, and then looked back down at her work. She normally used these study halls to get ahead, or at least caught up, in her work. When she'd dropped her pen, it drew a line across the page of the term paper she'd been grading. She cursed at herself, picked up the pen, and tried to focus again on the words written on the paper in front of her. She also tried again to direct her energy into channeling Rinoa for her visit to Squall.

Quistis...

Rinny? Quistis barely avoided looking up as her mind responded. What she'd expected to be a familiar voice was the gravelly, deep rasping of a very old woman, not the gentle, feminine tones of Rinoa. Its presence froze her down to her very soul.

Quistis Trepe... repeated the voice, louder this time.

Quistis immediately stood and scanned the room. Several of her students looked up at her in surprise.

"Who has it?" she asked.

There were various questioning murmurs, as no one seemed to know what she meant.

"You know what I mean," she scolded. "Who's got the voice projector? Study Hall is no time for practical jokes. Give it here!" She held out her hand expectantly.

The students looked around at each other, asking who was playing the prank on Instructor Trepe. Many of them looked at one student in particular, a notorious troublemaker. He simply shrugged and said, "Hey, wasn't me!"

Quistis marched toward the back of the room to the student, her nostrils flaring. "Whalen, empty your pockets."

"Instructor, I don't..."

"Now."

The freckle-faced, redheaded student named Whalen quickly dug into his pockets and emptied them out onto his desk. He had a pencil, a small notepad, a pack of gum, a few Gil in change, and a wadded-up tissue. For added effect, he turned out his pockets and showed them to Quistis and the rest of the class.

Quistis scowled and checked under Whalen's desk and seat. When she found nothing, she stood back up and projected to the entire class, "Listen, there's a time and a place for childish pranks, but this is not one. You may think it's funny to project voices into someone's ear, but until you face off against a nearly omnipotent Sorceress who trifles around inside your head just for fun, you don't know what kind of damage you could do. So knock it off, whoever's doing it!" She spun on her heel and stomped back to her desk, tiredly dropping herself into the chair and turning her attention back to the paper in front of her.

After some more accusing glances and quiet inquiries to each other, her students gradually returned to their various activities. Whalen stuffed his possessions back into his pockets, making an obscene gesture at one of his fellow classmates that smirked at him.

Quistis stared at the papers on her desk, no longer able to concentrate on them. She had completely forgotten about Rinoa and Squall. Somehow, she wasn't entirely sure that had been one of her students' pranks. Not only had she heard something, but she'd felt something, like she was receiving unwanted touches in an intimate spot.

I don't feel it any more, though. What...was that?

*

"Who do you think was pulling that crap on you?" Seifer asked, cradling Quistis' hand in both of his. They emerged from the Cafeteria hallway into Garden proper, which was relatively empty. Midterms were beginning in a few days, and most students were in their dorms or the Library, either studying or procrastinating.

Quistis shrugged. "I'm not totally convinced it was a prank. It felt like...something else..."

"Well, whatever it was, it didn't come back after you stopped using your powers."

"No, it..." Quistis gasped. "Oh, no...I forgot about Rinny and Squall!" When a couple passers-by gave her strange looks, she continued more quietly, "Rinoa was meeting with him, and I was sending her some of my power, like I always do. I completely forgot about that when I...heard the voice."

Seifer sighed. "You know, you think about others a little too damn much. Once in a while, you should worry about what you want, how you feel."

"But I...Seifer, I'm the only thing they have that lets them be together. Without me, they'll be separated forever."

Seifer shut his eyes and shook his head. "You know, you always had the weight of the world on your shoulders. Whether you were a SeeD or an Instructor, you always seemed like you had to be everything to everyone."

"I took on these responsibilities, and there are things I just have to do."

Seifer stopped suddenly, forcing Quistis to stop as well. She turned around and look at him, her brows furrowed and her mouth agape slightly. "There you go again," Seifer murmured. "You're gonna worry yourself into an early grave, you know."

"What? Maybe I..."

From behind Seifer, someone called out. He gritted his teeth and breathed out through them, knowing it was either a Trepie looking for an autograph from Quistis, or it was Squall, the biggest Trepie in Garden, wanting to know why she wasn't working herself to the bone for him.

Seifer spun around, and sure enough, Squall was approaching with Alexa in tow. Seifer had recognized the voice, but was genuinely surprised that the SeeD Commander would shout to anyone while walking in Garden's main corridor.

"Hello, Squall," Seifer greeted, his teeth still clenched. Then, relaxing his jaw, he said, "Hey, Lexie. How are you?"

"I'm okay," replied the little girl. "I get to see Mommy a little later. That's good."

Seifer nodded, knelt down, and tousled the girl's hair. She made a face and attempted to straighten it back out with her hands.

"Hey, Seifer." Squall stepped in, his eyes looking a bit darker than normal. His hair was ruffled and stuck up in some places. His uniform, although still within regulations, looked as if he had run a marathon while wearing it. Seifer was surprised that Squall would even think of going out in public, looking like he did.

"Quistis, I have to talk to you." Squall said, looking over Seifer's shoulder.

Quistis looked at Seifer, then back at Squall. She knew that Seifer was upset with her, and they needed to resolve whatever conflict was boiling up. However, she also needed to talk to Squall about what happened earlier that day; Rinoa had probably vanished on him suddenly when her concentration was broken.

"Actually, Seifer and I..."

"Yeah, sure, ok, go ahead," said Seifer. "Lexie, wanna go to the Quad? There's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. It'll be really cool!" He looked up at Squall, and his expression hardened.

"Okay, cool! Thanks, Uncle Seifer! Is it okay, Daddy?" Alexa looked up at Squall, who shifted his gaze from Quistis down to his daughter.

He glanced quickly at Seifer, who was giving him a cold stare. Looking back down at Alexa, he said, "Sure, Lexie, have fun. I'll come join you soon."

Alexa gleefully took Seifer's hand. As they left, Seifer said, "Enjoy each other's company," his voice laced with daggers.

"W-wait, Seifer, you don't..." Squall was too late. Seifer had already walked Alexa quickly away toward the Quad, a couple doors down the hall.

Quistis and Squall stared him, perplexed at Seifer's outburst. Squall looked at Quistis, and she leaned her head back, her eyes closed.

"Squall," said Quistis, "I'm sorry, but right now isn't a good time."

"Look, Quist, I'm sorry, but I..."

"Squall, I'm doing the best I can!" Squall jumped as the volume of Quistis' voice rose. "I know you miss Rinoa, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm pregnant, and Seifer and I..." She trailed off, not completing her sentence.

Squall looked down at the floor. If Quistis and Seifer were having problems, he knew it was partly his fault.

"Seifer's been upset a lot lately. I don't know if it's my powers, or what's going on with Rinoa, but..." she sighed heavily, "I just don't know, Squall."

"I'm sorry," Squall murmured. He felt so selfish at that moment. Seifer and Quistis were having trouble because he was demanding so much of her time. He knew that had to be it.

"It's not your...fault," Quistis replied, not able to hide the fact that she actually did blame him, partly. She glanced around them, to see if anyone was approaching. Understandably, it seemed everyone nearby was avoiding getting any closer to the pair. She motioned to one of the benchers lining the hallway, and sat down. "Something happened today. Something strange."

Squall sat down next to her, allowing her about a quarter-meter of personal space. "You know about it too?"

Quistis tilted her head forward and looked at Squall. "Know about what?"

Squall crossed his arms, and lowered his voice to a whisper. "People have been seeing Rinoa around Garden."

Quistis gave a look of genuine surprise. "What?"

Squall nodded. "Cid told me about it today. I think he suspects I've been using a holographic generator or something. He wants me to go see Doctor Kadowaki for a psyche eval."

"He said that?"

Squall scratched the back of his head. "Not in so many words."

"Well, if he has you go to one, I should be next in line." Quistis ran her fingers through her hair and stretched her other arm.

"What do you mean?"

"Today, during the study hall that Rinoa came to see you, I heard some voice calling my name. Deep and rough, like an old woman. I thought one of my students was playing a prank on me, but now they must think I'm losing my mind." Quistis closed her eyes.

"That was when Rinoa suddenly vanished. I couldn't come down and see you about it until now." Squall shifted his attention from the floor to the aqueduct over the railing, his eyes only passing a glance at Quistis.

"Squall, I can't do this anymore."

Squall's eyes shot toward Quistis. His lips wouldn't work, but it was as if his greatest fear were coming true. Can't do what...?

"I can't keep this secret anymore. It's killing me, and Seifer, and you, and...and it's hurting my marriage. And I'm still so scared...even if it's just our friends, I have to tell them. Now." Quistis eyes reflected her sudden resolve.

Squall's heart was only beginning to lower from his throat. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "Yeah. Okay. Want me to go find Zell?"

Quistis shook her head. "First, I want you to call Xu, Selphie, and Irvine, and find out the soonest they can all get here. Tell them it's very important."

It had been several years since Squall had taken orders from Quistis, but he accepted these without hesitation. He stood up and said, "I'll do it now."

Quistis also stood, supporting her back with her hands. "Let's go find Seifer and Lexie first. I really think this is for the best."

*

"...and then we played some basketball! I tried to score a goal, but the hoop was too high."

Squall closed the apartment door behind himself and Alexa, and shrugged his uniform jacket off his shoulders. As it fell to the floor, he led Alexa to her bedroom.

"Wow, sounds like you and Uncle Seifer had fun."

"Yeah," replied Alexa, "but he was kinda sad. I think he and Aunt Quisty had a fight or something. When she came back and said Aunt Selphie and Uncle Irvine were coming, he was just real quiet."

"Well," said Squall, retrieving Alexa's pink cotton pajamas, "They both have had a lot on their minds, and they just get so tired that they take out their frustration on each other."

Alexa nodded knowingly. "Yeah, Uncle Seifer's trying to be a good knight for Aunt Quisty, but she's having trouble with her powers."

Squall stopped cold. "You...you know about Qui...Aunt Quisty's powers?"

Alexa nodded. "Uh-huh. Mommy gave her powers when she went to the lonely place."

The color drained from Squall's face. How much does Lexie know about what's going on? Does she understand it all?

"Daddy, it's okay. Mommy told me some stuff, and I just know the rest." Alexa walked up to Squall and hugged his leg. Squall patted her back.

"How do you 'know'?"

Alexa shrugged. "I dunno. I just do. I asked Mommy, and she said I was right.

Squall sighed. The more he'd desired for his daughter to have a normal life, the less likely it was becoming.

Alexa took Squall's hand and looked up at him. He looked down into her little brown eyes. She cooed, "Daddy, it's all gonna be okay. I promise." She winked.

Squall couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was supposed to be his job to comfort Alexa, but she seemed to be doing a better job on him. "Come on, let me put your pajamas on."

"'Kay."

*

Squall quietly closed the door to Alexa's room, having read her one of her favorite fairy tales to send her off into slumber.

"I didn't tell her more than I felt she needed to know. Somehow, she knew just about everything that was going on. I couldn't lie and say she was wrong."

Squall turned and saw Rinoa standing there, her hands folded behind her back. He drunk in her image for a moment then approached her, standing inches away. "She doesn't know what happened today. At least, she hasn't said she knows."

Rinoa nodded. "Quisty told me what happened. I don't know what she's talking about. I never felt anything through her, except that she was getting kind of strung out with all the stress of her work schedule, her pregnancy, her new powers, and...me."

"I think she's actually getting more tired of me," Squall replied, rubbing his eyes. "But I need to make a phone call or two. She wants Selphie, Irvine, and Xu here so she can tell them about her powers...and about you."

Rinoa pursed her lips and let her gaze wander toward the floor. She studied Squall's fallen uniform jacket halfheartedly. "I wish I'd never given her my powers. She doesn't deserve all this torture she's going through. I just...I knew I could trust her with them. There was..." she trailed off.

"What?"

Rinoa looked back up at Squall, catching a glimpse of his white uniform shirt, and the lines of his muscle shirt just barely visible underneath. "Nothing. I was just afraid there'd be another Ultimecia or Adel that would try to steal them."

Squall eyed her curiously, but could garner no hint of her reservation. Instead, he said, "I'd better make those calls before it gets too late. Afterward, you want to go for a walk?"

Rinoa smiled, all traces of concern gone from her face. "I'd like that very much, Sir Knight."

*

The next evening, Selphie, Irvine, and Xu entered Squall's office. Zell was inside, pacing back and forth as Squall stood facing the window, his arms crossed in front of him. Seifer and Quistis sat together in the corner, Seifer speaking quietly to his wife.

"Hey, guys!" said Selphie, her usual perky self. She ran up to Zell and gave him a fierce hug, nearly throwing him off balance. "What's up?"

"Yeah," said Irvine, in his distinct Galbadian accent. "Why the urgent call? Not that we mind coming to visit, of course."

"Zell, what's going on?" asked Xu, trying to extract Selphie from her embrace. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and he took it in his own hand, shaking his head.

"I dunno. They wouldn't tell me until we were all here." Zell's voice was low, holding back much dread. "Can't be good, though."

Selphie, sensing the tension in the room, stalked over to Squall, who was still facing the window. He was tilting and nodding his head lightly, as if he were holding a conversation with someone. However, he said nothing out loud, and almost completely ignored Selphie's presence.

Finally, he nodded curtly and turned to face everyone else. Everyone except Quistis and Seifer, who were still preoccupied with each other, stared at him expectantly.

"Squall," said Selphie, snapping her finger in front of his face. "Hello, c'mon, what's going on?"

"Yeah, man," said Zell, now standing side-by-side with Xu, and holding her hand supportively. "You're scarin' the hell out of us."

Squall grimaced and tried to wave Selphie's hand from his face. Taking the hint, she stepped away, toward the comfort of her husband. Irvine stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"It's not my news to tell," Squall stated simply, looking over at Quistis and Seifer. They both looked up at him, and Seifer nodded. He helped Quistis out of her chair, and she walked toward the center of the room. Xu, Selphie, and Irvine were surprised, nearly shocked, at how she looked. She had dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, her normally perfect hair was in total disarray, and her skin was deathly pale. They could tell she had not slept in the past couple days.

When Quistis found her voice, it was raspy and low, as if she were afflicted with mild laryngitis. "I have something I want to announce to all of you. Before I do, I just want to say that we didn't want to keep this all from you, because you are our friends, and we trust you with our...our lives..." She faltered for a second, and Seifer rushed to her side. He took her hand and pulled her into his chest. She looked into his eyes gratefully, and nodded.

Quistis took a deep breath, and continued, "You may not believe what I'm about to tell you, but I need you to please keep your minds, and your hearts, open. This has been eating me apart for the past month or so, and I need you all to be there for me."

There were assorted supportive statements from the foursome, all promising to help Quistis however they could. Selphie tried to run up and give Quistis a hug, but Irvine held her back.

Nodding gratefully to them, Quistis said, "Guys, I'm a Sorceress."

The room was eerily silent. Xu, Zell, Irvine, and Selphie stared at Quistis in disbelief. After a few heartbeats, Xu said, "Quisty, are you serious?"

Quistis nodded slowly.

At that moment, they all realized why Quistis had been so tight-lipped with them recently. Zell stole a glance at Squall, who was still off in his own world. There's more here. Gotta be.

"I need to tell you everything, how it started, and how it is now," started Quistis. She started with Rinoa's hiding of her powers from everyone, and her reasons for doing so. Everyone looked at each other uncomfortably, and Selphie seemed on the verge of tears. They could not help but feel some guilt, even though they had no idea about what Rinoa had been going through.

Quistis then described the events of Rinoa's death, from her own point of view. At several points, she paused to allow Selphie, Xu, and even Zell and Irvine, a moment to compose themselves. Reliving that horrible event, especially through the eyes of the person that was closest to it, was extremely difficult for them.

Finally, she described Rinoa giving over her powers as she died, and the pain and responsibilities that came with them. Everyone continued staring at her, unsure of what they could say. Finally, Selphie broke the silence by saying, "Quisty, you should have told us earlier! We all love you, and we care about you." She ran over to Quistis and hugged her tightly, giving her a small kiss on her cheek.

Quistis accepted the hug appreciatively. This was a release she'd needed for a long time. "A lot of people in the world don't much like Sorceresses. I, like Rinoa before me, was afraid that if we were found out, you all could be persecuted if you knew about our power. But if you didn't know about it, you'd have plausible deniability."

"Quisty," said Xu, walking up to Quistis. She hugged the Sorceress after Selphie gave her some room. Zell and Irvine approached her, first warily, but then more comfortably as Seifer warmly gestured for them to come closer.

Quistis was so moved by the support of her friends that tears began to stream down her cheeks. The sight of the tears only made everyone embrace her more tightly. Everyone except Squall, that is. Selphie noticed that he was still off in his own little world, having another silent conversation.

"Squall?" she asked. Squall ignored her, continuing to pay attention to his invisible friend.

"There's more," Quistis said, glancing at Squall. Everyone took a few steps back, allowing Quistis some room to breathe. "Please don't be mad at Squall. This has been very tough on him, too."

"Yeah, I can imagine," interjected Zell.

Quistis shook her head. "No, not for the reasons you might think. You see, Rinoa's not gone. Not completely, I mean."

Collective sounds of inquiry filled the room. Quistis continued, uninhibited, "After Rinoa and I parted, and she died, her spirit was pulled into a kind of 'limbo' between our world and the afterlife. She calls it the 'Crossroad'."

"Wait," interrupted Zell. "What do you mean, 'She calls it...'?"

Quistis sighed. This part will be the hardest to explain. "I've been in contact with Rinoa since shortly after her funeral. And through me, she's been visiting Squall and Lexie."

They all turned their attention to Squall. Now, he was paying his full attention to Quistis, and nodding slowly.

Everyone became silent again. Their friend Quistis having Sorceress powers was believable, but the ghost of their dead friend visiting? They found that part much more difficult to accept.

Quistis looked at Seifer. When he nodded, she turned back to Squall and said, "Rinoa, I think it's time." She then closed her eyes, as if in deep concentration.

"Yes, I think it is." The four visitors jumped, the new voice having startled them. The voice came from Squall's direction, but it was not his. It was one that none of them ever expected to hear again.

Squall turned his head to his left, and as he did so, a form shimmered into view. At first, they could tell it was the outline of a person. The person was a good head shorter than Squall and of a relatively petite build. As her image gained clarity, there was no mistaking whom it was that stood before them.

There, looking almost as alive as she had the morning of her death, was the late Rinoa Leonhart. Squall's wife, Alexa's mother, and Balamb Garden Instructor. And their dear friend.

Zell, Xu, Selphie and Irvine stared at her, all totally dumbstruck. After what seemed like hours, the sound of a body hitting the floor echoed across the silent room. Everyone looked down to see that Zell had passed out cold. As Seifer, Irvine, and Xu carried him over to the couch, Selphie walked slowly up to the apparition and asked, "R...Rinny? Can it really...be you?"

Rinoa smiled happily. "Yes, it's me, Sefie. How are you?"

Selphie's mouth dropped open, and more tears immediately began to fall from her eyes. Immediately, she lunged at Rinoa, saying, "Oh, Rinny, it's so..."

She stopped her speech in shock as she fell right through Rinoa and lost her balance. Squall quickly grabbed her arm in his strong grip, keeping her from tumbling to the floor. After he helped her right herself again, she looked Rinoa up and down. She could tell how Rinoa was slightly transparent and shimmering, and could faintly see the other side of the room through the black of Rinoa's uniform.

"I'm not really here," said Rinoa plaintively. "I mean, I am, but I'm not, you know? I'm in the living world at the moment, but I don't have a body. With Quisty's help you can see and hear me, but that's about it."

Irvine walked up behind Selphie, staring at Rinoa. The brunette smiled at the bearded cowboy and said, "Still have the beard, Irvine? It makes you look like you're thirty, you know."

Irvine adjusted his hat, and smirked. "Well, thanks. God, it's so good to see you again. When we found out you'd died, we...we just..." His smirk vanished quickly.

Rinoa nodded. "I know, I know. I wish I could be back with you all, for good. I'm working on it, with Quisty's help."

There was a rustling in the far end of the room. Xu had stirred Zell back into consciousness, and had sat him up on the sofa. He shook his head, clearing out the cobwebs, and looked back up at Rinoa. After staring at her for several seconds, he stood shakily, accepting Xu's helping hand. Together, they walked up toward the ghost.

Zell stopped a few feet in front of her. He stuck out his hand, fingers extended, and tried to touch her shoulder. As his fingers passed through her, he gasped and quickly withdrew his hand. "I...I don't...believe it!" he exclaimed. "Hey, so there really is a ghost at Garden!"

Rinoa tilted her head and giggled. "Yeah, there is. We're still trying to figure out..." She stopped, her smile beginning to melt. No, they don't need to know that yet.

"What?" asked Selphie.

Rinoa smiled again. "Nothing."

"Rinoa, I don't know how this has happened, but it's so good to have you back!" Xu's eyes filled with tears. "I...I never thought I'd get a chance to say this, and I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm so, so sorry about what happened to you. Trabia Garden is my responsibility, and what happened to you...it was my fault."

"Xu, please," begged Rinoa. "Please don't blame yourself. Squall explained it all to me. It was an accident. It wasn't your fault, or anyone else's. I just want to take the time I have here now, and try to enjoy what I came so close to losing."

Squall listened as Rinoa, Zell, Xu, Selphie and Irvine all engaged in excited conversation, trying to catch up on lost time. As he listened, he felt his heart warm and his anxiety fade slowly away. For the first time in weeks, Squall began to feel normal again. The gang's all together. And I don't have to live with keeping secrets anymore. Not from my friends.

He glanced over at Seifer and Quistis. They embraced each other, dancing to some unheard music. But he could tell just by how they held each other that they knew they could be happy again.

Seifer happened to catch Squall watching them. Squall expected so see some flicker of anger or resentment on the elder man's face, but instead saw a grin grow on his lips. Seifer smiled at Squall, and gave him a thankful nod. Squall smiled back, hoping that, from this point on, things would be better between Seifer and Quistis. He also made a mental note to stop bothering them as often.

As he had that thought, it occurred to him that he had almost become as clingy to Quistis as he'd been to Ellone, when he was a child. Once Rinoa was gone, he had nobody on his level that he could talk to. Inwardly, he cursed himself. For all the years of preparing himself to stand alone, he had so quickly reverted to needing another for his own peace of mind. And this time, that person had almost paid the price with their sanity and a failed marriage.

As he stood there, he made a resolution. I will never be like that again. I will enjoy the company of those I love, but if for some reason I end up alone, I'll live with it like I did all those years before. It's not just to protect myself from pain, now it's to protect those I care about. I'm sorry, Quisty and Seifer.

And as he turned back to his other friends, he was reminded of how much he cared for them, and they him. He knew then that with their help, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish. But even without their help, he would live on and do what was most important to him. He would raise his daughter to be strong and independent, unlike how Squall had been. As he made these decisions, he felt everything in his mind come clear, as it hadn't been for many weeks.

He knew then that things would be different, for the better.