I couldn't resist writing more and more in one day. There's no lemon in this, just possibly very slightly AU, but only in Squall's origins. I tried not to change it at all, but I may have done a little, unintentionally coz I've never seen the ending of FF8. I think I'm at the end of Disk Three, beginning of Disk Four? Thereabouts anyway.

Disclaimer: I don't own Squall or Seifer, and all songs belong to their respective singers. (I had to add that in so I couldn't get sued!)

Road Trip

Seifer smiled, stroking Squall's beautiful brown hair. "Shall we go somewhere else today, or shall we just stay here?"
Squall considered it for a moment, stretching to kiss Seifer, curling an arm round the back of his neck in bliss as they savored the simple joining.

"We'd better move on," Squall decided, regretfully. Seifer smiled, backing away slightly and handing some 'revitalizing wipes' to clean up with.

After a few minutes they got dressed, and Squall shoved Seifer out of the tent and flat-packed it to go back in the car.

"Who'll drive this time?" Seifer asked, dangling the keys and winking.

Squall laughed, vaulting into the passenger seat, "You drive. I'm still tired from our recent… exertion."

"What, the Ice Prince is tired?" Seifer asked with a disbelieving smile.

Squall gave him an evil look, "And you never get tired, big shot?"

"Big shot?" Seifer asked, rolling his eyes at his own innuendo.

"Pervert!" Squall yelled with a giggle.

"So what if I am?" Seifer asked, leaning in close to Squall, "Isn't that the way you like me?" Squall's breath caught, Seifer looked gorgeous so close up, even if he was driving.

They drove on in silence for another mile before Seifer asked, "Where are we making for now?"
Squall pulled his attention back to the map, taking a moment to get his bearings. "A small town I think…. Winhill?" He checked again, "Yeah, Winhill. You'll need to take the next lane off this road, then follow the sign."

"Thanks Squall."

"Winhill…. That was where I was born."

Seifer had never heard Squall's history so he remained silent, sending a look at Squall that prompted him to say more.

"My mother was called Raine Leonhart. She married… Laguna Loire. She was very beautiful." Squall's eyes misted over. "If I try to really hard, I can remember her holding me and whispering, 'my baby' until she died. She died from complications in childbirth. She cherished flowers… especially white ones. Laguna always used to love that about her." Squall was crying by now.

Seifer leaned over and kissed his forehead, "Do you want to give Winhill a miss then?"

"No… I'd like to see my hometown. At least one more time."

"Anything for you, honey." Seifer forced his attention back to the road, denying himself the rare and painful sight of Squall's tears. He pushed a fresh CD into the player, and gave Squall time to wipe away the tears that he hated.

I met a girl who sang the blues,

And I asked her for some happy news,

But she just smiled and turned away

Unintentionally the song was a slightly sad one, American Pie by Don McLean. Squall just sat quietly listening.

I went down to the sacred store

Where I'd heard the music years before

But the man there said the music wouldn't play

Squall reached for a tissue, the crying passed.

And in the streets the children screamed,

The lovers cried and the poets dreamed

But not a word was spoken,

The church bells all were broken

"There wasn't much happiness in Winhill when my mother died." Squall stated, "I remember a tiny bit of it. Nobody ever seemed to laugh. Winhill dwindled into a tiny village. It was only after the defeat of Ultemecia that people really started to go back to Winhill. Before I was sent to Edea, I remember that they never rang any bells, in respect for Raine."

"I'm sorry." Seifer whispered. Squall opened his eyes and smiled weakly,

"You weren't to know."

"That's my point! I never tried to find out your past."

 "I wouldn't have wanted to tell you till now."
"Still, I could at least have asked." Seifer protested.

"Seifer. Not your fault. That's final, okay? Now shut up, I'm gonna try and have a brief doze."
Seifer fell silent, not because of Squall's words, but to think about what he had said. He took the sharp turn of the main road, bumping a little but not enough to wake the already sleeping brunette he loved.