~Chapter Three~
"I wonder what happened to Squall. I haven't seen him since he went to talk to Rinoa." Taya said.
"Yeah I haven't seen him around either. Why are you so anxious to see him? Kim asked.
"I wanna make sure he's alright. He never showed at the dance last night. Something might have happened between Rinoa and him. Plus I have something to tell him."
"I don't think Rinoa would hurt him even if she is a sorceress so you don't have to worry about that. The worst she could do is tell him something horrible."
"Thanks you really know how to cheer a person up." Taya said sarcastically.
"What do you have to tell Squall?"
"Um...nothing. It's not important."
"It must be. Come on just tell me. I'm your best friend you gotta tell me."
"Well alright but you can't tell anyone yet. I don't want people to know until after I tell Squall."
"I won't just tell me already."
"Ok...I'm pregnant. I just found out today."
"Oh my gosh...wow." Kim gasped her mouth wide open.
"Yeah...I know...it's a strange thought isn't it?"
"Are you gonna tell Squall tonight?"
"If I ever find him."
"He'll be surprised but happy I think."
"I hope he's happy. I want this baby to have both of us love it."
"Do you want me to help you look for him?"
"Nah I'll find him. Thanks anyway though."
"Come to my room later and tell me what happens."
"Ok see you later." Taya said as she turned to walk to Squall's room.
Kim turned and walked in the opposite direction towards her room. On her way there she passed Instructor Trepe. So she figured she'd try to help Taya out by seeing if Quistis knew where Squall was.
"Instructor." Kim said.
"Yes what is it?" Quistis said coldly. She knew that Kim was friend with Taya so she didn't try to be friendly at all.
"Um...do you happen to know where Commander Leonhart is?"
"Why?"
"My friend is looking for him."
"Taya?"
"Yes it's her."
"What does she want to tell him? He is very busy at the moment preparing to move in with Rinoa. They're getting married soon."
"What?!?"
"Married. Squall and Rinoa are getting married." Quistis said putting emphasis on the word married. Kim also noticed that a smile appeared on her face.
"Why are they getting married?" Kim asked confused. He couldn't be marrying Rinoa he was with Taya.
"That's really none of your business. It's between them." Quistis stalked off.
"I gotta find Taya and tell her before she talks to Squall." Kim thought as she ran in the direction of Squall's room.
Taya had arrived at Squall's room before Kim had even talked to Quistis. When she got there she saw it being emptied of all it's possessions. "Hey what's going on?" she asked a SeeD that was carrying a box of stuff. "Why are all of Squall's things being moved?" she continued to ask him questions.
"He's moving into Headmaster Cid's old rooms."
"Why?"
"Cid doesn't use them anymore now that he lives with Edea and Squall needs more room."
"What for?"
"Squall's getting married didn't you hear? He's marrying Sorceress Rinoa."
"No I hadn't. Um...where'd you hear this?"
"It's the word around the Garden, plus I'm the one moving his stuff. But I also heard that the reason their getting married so fast is because Rinoa's pregnant."
Taya looked at him speechlessly. "Yeah well I gotta go help move these boxes so bye," the SeeD moved on. Taya stood for a little while just staring at the door. Slowly she turned to walk back to her room. When she turned she saw Kim running towards her.
"Taya!" she yelled then said "Did you talk to Squall yet?" Taya didn't speak she only shook her head sadly. "Did you hear then?" Kim asked guessing why her friend was upset. A nod was her response. "What are you gonna do? Are you still gonna tell him?" Kim couldn't stop herself from asking questions she knew Taya didn't want to answer. Taya shrugged and walked past Kim. Kim let her pass but followed her to her room. Once they arrived Taya threw herself on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. Kim stood in the doorway for a few moments until she finally sat in a chair by the bed.
"I can't believe this. What is going on? How could he marry her?" Taya burst out all of a sudden. Kim looked at her but said nothing.
"You wanna know why? You really wanna know?!?" Taya was almost yelling. Kim put her hand on Taya shoulder. Taya ignored it and continued, "It's because she pregnant. She going to have his baby and he won't abandon it. But what about my baby? Is he gonna abandon it? Is he only gonna be a father to one baby?"
"I don't think he'd want to abandon any baby." Kim said trying to offer any comfort.
"He can't marry us both. He's marrying her he can't marry me."
"Maybe if you told him he'd marry you instead."
"Yeah sure mess up Rinoa's kid's life then. Have her kid be fatherless and know that it was entirely my fault. I won't do that. I can't do that to an unborn baby."
"What about you baby then? Are you gonna have it be fatherless?"
"No I'm not...I'll give it up. It can have two parents that can love it and take care of it like me and Squall can't."
"You can't give it up. At least talk to Squall first just see how he feels. Please." Kim pleaded.
"No. I'm not going to tell him about this baby at all. He's not going to know which means you're not going to tell him. Or anybody for that matter, no ones gonna know."
"Taya...just talk to him. Don't do anything rash. You might regret it one day. But if you do decide to give your baby up I won't tell anyone. I just wanna let you know that you really should keep the baby."
"I'm going to have to talk to Squall anyway. He's going to have to break up with me soon."
"Fine just when you decide I mean really decide come tell me." Kim walked to the door. She stood and looked at Taya for a moment then left.
Taya flung herself backwards onto her pillows. She wasn't going to tell Squall anything. It would be better this way. She'd just take an easy assignment somewhere away from the Garden, have her baby, give it up, and then come back. But could she really come back. Could she really bear to see Rinoa and Squall together? No she knew she wouldn't be able to watch Rinoa's kid without wondering about her own child. She couldn't watch Squall play with Rinoa's kid and not imagine he was playing with hers. She couldn't come back to the Garden but she didn't want to throw away eight years of hard work training to become a SeeD. What could she do SeeD's were stationed at Balamb Garden she couldn't avoid ever going there. Unless she became an instructor and worked at a different Garden. But she hadn't trained all those years just to have one easy mission and a life as a teacher. It was better than giving it up all together at least now she could still be a SeeD. That's what she'd do. Tomorrow she'd check the mission board, which held some missions that people could volunteer for. If no one signed up by the due date Commander Leonhart would just pick the SeeD's. She'd search for an easy mission by where Galbadia Garden was stationed so while on her mission she could take classes in teaching. Once her mission was over she could be a full time student again until she was certified to teach and then hopefully she would be able to teach at Galbadia. Now with a new plan in mind Taya calmed down slightly but she remained miserable. She had just found out she was having a baby this morning and this evening she had already decided to give it up. She hadn't even had time to think about the baby at all.
She was still amazing herself with the idea of giving up her baby when a knock sounded at her door. She got up and opened it. Squall stood there with a sad look on his face. Taya stepped aside and let him in.
"I gather you heard what is going on around here now?" he asked.
"Yes I've heard."
"Well then there isn't much I have to explain."
"No there still is. I want to know why I had to learn that you were getting married from some SeeD that I don't even know. I want to know why you didn't tell me yourself. I want to know why you have to break up with me and be with her when I love you some much and you love me. We fit together so well and yet you're going back to her. She can't love you like I do." Taya was saying things she hadn't wanted to say to Squall. She didn't want him to know how she really felt; she just wanted to get away from him so she could start the life she had just planned.
"Taya don't do this to me. I have to do what I'm doing. I don't really have a choice." Squall looked really sad now.
"You don't have to marry her. She can live at the Garden but you don't have to live together. You can still be with u...me." Taya stuttered almost saying us instead of me. Since she didn't want to tell him about the baby she had to be careful about what she said in front of him.
"She's having my baby. I can't leave her. I won't be like my father."
At this Taya nodded she knew how much not having a father for so many years affected Squall. Even though she had nodded she didn't want to understand what he was saying. "If that's what you feel you should do I won't really be able to stop you will I?"
"I'm sorry. I have to marry her. I can't give my child up. Unless...unless there is an another reason a real pressing reason that I couldn't."
"What do you mean?" for a second Taya thought he knew about her being pregnant.
"Unless something more important or something that stops me from marrying her comes up. Otherwise I'm marrying Rinoa."
"Ok then...well um then I guess you should go. I don't think Rinoa will want you to hang around with me anymore. So I guess it's goodbye huh?" Taya got up, walked over to the door, and opened it. Squall nodded, gave her a sad pleading look, then left. Taya was left alone once again. She hadn't even tried to tell Squall about the baby. She never wouldn't ever either. She was going to start anew without Squall tomorrow.