(a/n: I also forgot to put in the disclaimer that any made up characters or names you don't recognize also belong to me :) )

**The Past Revisited**

The clicking of hurried steps echoed in the empty corridor of Galbadia Garden as Ilyjah half sprinted to her morning class. Clutching her books under one arm she sighed dejectedly when she saw the other SeeD cadets file out of the classroom.

"Late again Lockheart?" Casey Dregs quipped as he passed her in the hallway. He tilted his head in sarcastic sympathy. "Ah, you'll get to class on time eventually. A couple more years and who knows, maybe you'll actually graduate!"

Ilyjah narrowed her eyes. "Ha ha, you're so funny Casey. You know you're right though." She sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm only trying to keep you company though Dregs, wouldn't want you to be the only one who fails the field exam this year. What is this again? Your third time taking the exam?" She smirked as she continued onward into the class, looking over her shoulder to see his smart ass smile fade.

Hesitantly, Ilyjah stood outside the classroom, wondering how pissed the instructor would be this time. She knocked on the door timidly and held her breath. "Instructor?"

"Come in." Quistis sighed and downed the last of the water in her bottle before tossing it away. She looked up when she saw Ilyjah enter the room. "The fourth time this week I see. Being late is one thing Ilyjah; missing morning class is another all together. It's becoming quite a bad habit for you."

"I'm really sorry I-"

Quistis raised her hand, cutting of Ilyjah in exasperation. "Save it, I've heard it one too many times I don't need any explanations. If you want to throw away a full year's work in two weeks just over a little sleep deprivation, it's your business."

Ilyjah's face fell. "So you're not going to let me take the exam then?"

"No, you can take the field exam, I wouldn't deprive you of that." Quistis replied, trying to reassure Ilyjah somewhat. "I know how much becoming a SeeD means to you. Now whether you pass or not is a different story."

Ilyjah shrugged. "I know."

"You're not just a cadet to me Ilyjah I consider you to be one of my closest friends now you know that." Quistis sighed and walked around to the front of her desk. "I'm only being hard on you because you've got so much talent and potential, I've never seen anyone with quite the gift you have with the guardians and with magic. I just wish you'd show to class, it'd give you a fighting chance. Talent or not, this exam will test your skill to the fullest extent."

Ilyjah just shrugged and looked at the ground again.

"Alright, get outta here." Quistis said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood somewhat. "You'll be late for training. I've lectured you enough for one day."

Ilyjah nodded her head and tried not to look to discouraged as she left the classroom. She smiled to the stranger outside the door as she was on her way.

"Quistis Trepe," A familiar voice sounded from the doorway. "Were you going to fail that poor girl?"

Quistis turned on her heels and smiled. "Rinoa!" She laughed and embraced her old friend. "What brings you over this way? Not that this is an unpleasant surprise of course."

"Took the train from Timber. Shore leave, you know thought I'd look around the shops a while, visit-" Rinoa sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Visit my father."

She and Quistis exchanged glances, both conveying that this wasn't about to be a pleasant trip to Galbadia.

"Oh I see, so not exactly business, but far from being pleasure right?"

Rinoa nodded with a smile. "Something likes that. Anyway, I just thought I'd drop by and see my favorite instructor who hasn't been home for quite sometime."

"I know, I know, but I've been busy. Besides, when's the last time you were back in Balamb?"

"Months, but I'm not the issue here."

Quistis sighed and rolled her eyes. "How is everyone? I'm sure you keep more frequent contact than I do. How's Squall?"

Rinoa circled the room and sat in an empty desk. "Haven't seen him in about three months but we talk almost daily." She sighed. "It's expected though, what with him being Commander and me fronting the construction of Timber Garden. He's reverting to his old self, unfortunately. It's probably the distance; I'll bring him out of it again. I have my ways"

"And the others?"

"Zell and Selphie are as annoyingly close as they were before you left. Funny, I never expected them to get together. Sefie's been in Trabia for the last little while though, visiting and helping out at Garden. Irvine." Rinoa rolled her eyes and rested her chin on her hand. "Well, you know how Irvine is and always will be. Seifer's been gone for months now, nobody's really sure where he is. He stayed in Balamb for sometime after you left but, I guess he had to get away." Rinoa smacked herself in the head when she saw Quistis' expression change. "Oh man, I'm sorry Quisty. I didn't mean to bring him up, I forgot how much it still effected you."

"It's alright." Quistis reassured her friend with a melancholy smile. "I couldnt expect him to wait around in Balamb for me forever. Besides after what happened with Fujin, after I couldn't save her, things got awkward." She fought back her tears. "Like he blamed me or something. It's funny, I never actually thought we'd all be scattered like this, you in Timber, Squall with Irvine Zell and Selphie running Garden, me teaching here and Seifer nowhere to be found. It's probably for the best anyway."

Rinoa tisked. "Oh, don't say that. You know that it's not true don't you?"

"Hmmm," Quistis chewed her bottom lip. "I'm not so sure."

Rinoa wrapped her arms around Quistis and leaned her head on her shoulder. "So melancholy Quisty. You should come home, even just for a few days!"

"Oh, I don't know."

"Pleeeeeaase? Come on you've got to, I'm going back in a few days myself. Squall tells me Garden's been docked at the harbor for a few days now and he's got every intention to stay there for at least a week more." Rinoa jumped up and down excitedly. "Selphie'll be back by then and it'll be like it used to be again, all six of us together!"

Quistis ran her hands through her hair, which was loose for a change, and sighed. "So close to the field exam Rinoa? What'll I do with my cadets?"

"Bring them with you!"

"All of them?"

"Yeah why not?" Rinoa laughed. "You can show them around Balamb and even train them up in Fire Cavern." She could see Quistis' resolve weaken when she mentioned training; same old typical workhorse like ethic Quistis always had. "Whaddaya say huh?"

Quistis sighed and smiled a little. The offer was quite appealing, and while she knew that this really wasn't the time to be taking a short trip to Balamb and disguising it as training, Quistis really wanted to go, "Let me think about it?"

Rinoa nodded her head and squealed before glancing at her watch. "Just don't think too hard, it's not good for you." She sighed and grabbed her bag off of the desk. "I'm running late, I have to be in Deling in an hour and I think I may have just missed the last train. I'll talk to you in a day or so and we can sort out our stuff for the big trip home!"

Quistis sighed and shook her head. Perhaps this is just what she needed.