The Next Generation
(Author's Note: This is the saddest chapter I've ever written. I guess I could imagine it all too clearly. Oh man, I can't believe I wrote this... This chapter, although at first seems a bit, well, sex orientated, it isn't. Please read on, I hope it's worth the read. Tell me if I should continue. Everyone but Aliasha, and some other characters, not yet in the story, belong to me. I hope you enjoy reading this. It left me with a warm glow of pride, if I say so myself, to write it. Review please. Probably not for those who don't like tragedy.)
The Next Generation- Prologue
Two people, so close, so far away...
Seifer watched Quistis lovingly. She was only at peace when she was asleep. She was truly beautiful. He had been the first to admit feelings for her, and at first Quistis had ignored him and continued in pursuit of Squall. Something had happened though, and last night Quistis had come to Seifer's dormitory.
Of course she'd spent the night there. Seifer had thought Christmas had come early. Yet something else had made Seifer's pulse quicken. Quistis had admitted she loved him. The one thing he had dreamed of, ever since he'd mistaken her as an angel on her first day at Edea's Orphanage.
Now Quistis was asleep in his arms. Seifer knew that soon Quistis would come to her senses and leave hurriedly with cold words. He would see if she remembered last night, if she had been drunk then he'd tell her nothing had happened, and that would be that. But alcoholic influence had never made Quistis do anything like this before. Not even when she'd got drunk at Squall and Rinoa's wedding.
"Seifer?" Seifer snapped out of his thoughts. She was stirring in his arms. He gently released her, so she could get up. He was surprised when she pulled herself closer to him.
"Snuggle," She ordered, in a way that reminded him of Selphie. Seifer helplessly obeyed her command. Quistis still demanded a lot of respect, even after, well, this.
"Instructor? I think we need to talk," Seifer said reluctantly. It was out of habit he called her Instructor now, as both were Instructor's and on equal ground. He turned his mind back to the present. He wanted to stay like this forever.
"I know Seifer," Quistis replied. She sounded sad and tired. Seifer knew she had every reason to be tired, then punished himself for thinking about that again. He admitted, it probably was true that men thought about it every five seconds.
"You don't think it'll work?" Seifer asked. He felt her begin to turn herself, so she could look into his eyes. The thought of being read, having his deepest desire revealed, both scared and excited Seifer. Maybe if she saw how much he wanted this to work, maybe then she'd stay?
"It won't," Quistis said sadly. Seifer met her eyes. She was crying. So was he.
"I suggest you get dressed," Seifer managed to say. She nodded. He lay in bed and waited until she'd got out of the shower, before getting in himself. He tried to pretend to himself that last night was a dream. That it was only a really nice dream. But he couldn't. Last night had happened. It had happened. It would torment Seifer for the rest of his life.
Seifer dressed in the bathroom. He had to meet Fujin and Raijin for lunch, then he had to go and see "Commander" Squall, to try and get the stingy git to give the disaplinary committee a higher budget. Only when he slipped into the main room of his dorm did he realise that Quistis was still there.
She looked radiant as ever. Her golden hair had been left down, her clothes, though slightly creased, highlighted areas of her body that Seifer would rather they didn't in the circumstances. The only thing that was wrong was that she was crying. Seifer swallowed, he wasn't strong enough to let her go after all.
"I will always love you Seifer," She said quietly, then turned quickly and left. Seifer waited until the door had shut and punched the wall. He left a little heart-shaped dent in the wall. He spat on the floor and went to get his trenchcoat. He swept through the corridors, giving detentions to students for looking at him and breathing.
Seifer headed straight to Squall's office. Though Squall was his nemesis, he was also his brother. This was the side that Seifer was going to try to appeal to. He barged into Squall's office and saw something that made him wish he'd taken up knocking. Rinoa was already heavily pregnant. Seeing her tongue-wrestling with Puberty Boy was slightly sickening, though he was sure they had done much more. Unless Rinoa's pregnancy was the act of Hyne, and she was a freak of nature. Seifer cleared his throat loudly. They sprang apart.
"Seifer! Haven't you heard of knocking!?" Rinoa asked angrilly. Seifer ignored her and walked straight up to Squall, took him by both shoulders and made him look into his eyes. Stormy grey met dazzling green.
"You gotta give me a transfer! I'll go mental if you don't! I know that would amuse you to see me rocking, hugging my knees but- please. Just send me to Trabia, Galbadia, anywhere. Just don't keep me here!" Seifer blurted out. Pretty pitiful, but Squall was serious as ever. Seifer knew that Squall knew that things must be real bad for Seifer to give up his home.
"What have you done Seifer? Who's up the duff?" Squall asked, impatiently. Seifer snorted. Then a cold realisation hit him. What if...? No, Quistis was more sensible than that, she'd be on the pill. He couldn't tell Squall what had happened though. It was against Garden policy for Instructor's to sleep with each other, out of wedlock. They would both lose their Instructors licences and that would kill Quistis. She'd been hard hit the first time.
"Please Squall! You've gotta let me go!" Seifer begged. "Squall, I'll get on my hands and knees and beg if I have to!" Squall seemed to think that this had gone far enough and turned to some paperwork on his desk.
"Trabia are short of a Gunblade Specialist Instructor. I'll inform them of your transfer. They'll expect you by this evening. Now shift it. I have important business to attend to," Squall gestured to the door. Seifer saluted and was just about to leave when he decided one last jibe at the Commander wouldn't hurt.
"I could see that when I came in!" He called over his shoulder.
Quistis went up to Squall's office. She had to talk to him about Seifer. She had tell him that she would be giving up her Instructor's licence for him. She had to talk to someone. She'd rather lose her dream job than the heartless bastard that she had fallen in love with.
She knocked at the door. It sounded like a heated arguement was happening within the office. She heard Rinoa shout something and Squall reply in calming tones. She heard Rinoa shout at him, the sound of crashing, then she heard Squall shout back. Quistis bit her lip. Perhaps this could wait a while? The door flew open and Rinoa stormed out.
"Quistis? Ah, I suppose you heard that..." Squall said. Quistis nodded. Yes, Rinoa had thrown all of Squall's paperwork on the floor and thrown, what appeared to have once been, a plate. Squall followed Quistis's gaze.
"Yes, we had a bigger fight than usual. Seifer came up and asked for a transfer. He's left, Rinoa thinks I should have persuaded him to stay. He was really set on leaving though, said that staying here would make him go crazy. He begged. Rinoa's sulking now and I am the one who has to pick up the pieces," He looked around the room. "Literally."
Quistis didn't believe her ears. Seifer had wanted to leave nad jumped at the first chance. Maybe he wasn't worth it after all. Maybe to him it had just been sex? Quistis thought about it. Why had he cried then? Why had he looked so unhappy? Quistis longed for him to love her, but maybe he hadn't after all. Maybe he'd been drunk?
"Quisty? What's wrong? You look like someone's hit you in the face!" Squall said, walking up to her. She bit her lip and then decided that Squall wouldn't understand. Instead she just fell into his arms and cried. She cried and cried until she was exhausted. Then she left, without a word of explanation to Squall.
Quistis stared. Two little blue lines...
Quistis would begin to show soon. She had to go on vacation. Maybe the Centra Continent? She had to get away. She couldn't admit to peope who the father was. They wouldn't understand. They wouldn't. She sighed and stood up from behind her desk. There was only one person who Quistis could turn to.
She locked her office door and walked the familiar route. She often helped in the Infirmary, Doctor Kadowaki would instruct her on the finer points of medicene and the knowledge came in handy on the battle field. She and the doctor had made a little pact of trust. Neither would tell anothers secret. Quistis knew quite a few of Kadowaki's, or Vera, as she was now known to her. Cid had a good reason to keep Vera happy.
Quistis walked in and saw Vera sitting, happily doing nothing very much. The plump woman raised her eyes to Quistis and then greeted her warmly.
"How are you Quisty? Everything ok?" She asked. Quistis shook her head and sat down next to the happy doctor. The doctor immediately looked concerned.
"I'm pregnant, Vera. Four months pregnant... What am I going to do? I-I don't think the father wants to know and- oh Vera! What am I going to do? I won't give it up for adoption, but-" Quistis gave in and just stared at Kadowaki hopelessly. The doctor pursed her lips. She knew that Quistis was hiding something.
"I want you to tell me everything Quistis. Then I want you to go on vacation. Have the child, and I'll have a word with Ma Dincht. She'll look after it when you're working," The doctor said sternly. Quistis nodded, not daring question the doctor. "Now tell me the story..."
Quistis started at the part when Seifer said he'd loved her. She had tried to skirt around the fact they had sex, but Kadowaki wouldn't let her, making her put it plainly, so that apparently, she could accept it. Then Quistis told the bit where Seifer disappeared to Trabia, and how he didn't want to know. He wasn't answering her calls. Kadowaki clucked her tongue sympathetically.
"I'll tell Ma Dincht about this, you can stay there for a while after the birth. Get used to being a mom. You can go to Esthar. Ellone and Laguna will look after you there. Until then, you'd better enjoy the warm glow that you've given a little being a chance at life," Doctor Kadowaki said, optimistically. Quistis smiled weakly. Yes, there was some pride in that at least. Then something struck her. If she kept the child, lived in the Dincht household, left the child with Zell's mom, then wouldn't Zell find out? Then all her friends would know!
"Zell can't find out," Quistis said firmly. Doctor Kadowaki giggled. Quistis looked at her, now wasn't the time for fooling about. Quistis however, noticed the Infirmary wasn't empty. Zell had been in there the entire time. Quistis blushed scarlet.
"How much did you hear?" She demanded. She couldn't be angry. She just wanted to find an answer, and she guessed that Vera's idea was the best plan so far. Ma Dincht would love looking after a little baby, and she wouldn't spoil the child, like she'd done Zell, because Quistis would still be around.
"Everything. Don't worry, Quisty. I promise I won't tell. Neither will my Ma. She'll look after it without any questions asked. I suggest you go tell Squall now. He has a right to know, before you do a disappearing act for the next five months," Zell said. Quistis jumped up and hugged him. Zell hugged back and they understood one another. Zell told someone, Quistis killed him. Quistis would treat him better or Zell would announce it over the tanoid. Zell was Quistis's brother, and though annoying at times, they loved each other, in a brother-sister relationship way. Quistis pulled away and sniffed. She'd better go and tell Squall then. This should be fun...
Quistis lay on the bed. She was asleep, but no longer peaceful. Her breath came in quick short gasps, her face contorted in pain after every breath. She was feverish and even when she was awake, she barely knew who her friends were. Apparently it was the disease, the madness, that was killing her.
It had been five years since Seifer had left Balamb Garden. The time had passed so slowly that Seifer felt as though it had been a lifetime. Each day he'd think about Quistis, wonder what she was doing. It turned out that she'd been in hospital most of the time. Seifer had ignored her calls for years, every month a teary call would be on his answer machine. When they'd stopped he assumed she'd given up on him. Then Selphie had rang, in tears. Quistis was on her death bed, and was calling his name.
He had left Trabia as quickly as he could and gone to Balamb Infirmary immediately. The entire gang was there. He'd ignored the strange looks that Zell, Squall and Doctor Kadowaki had given him and walked straight to her bedside. There he waited, hoping that if she woke up, she'd remember who he was. The others were silent, and Quistis's laboured breathing was the only sound.
"Seifer?" Her voice was faint, and fluttering, like a breeze. Seifer jumped and looked down. Her eyes were misty but there was recognition there. He smiled and kissed her forehead. She smiled too. Then she broke into a fit of coughing.
"I'm not going to last much longer," Quistis said quietly. Seifer grabbed her hand. She couldn't say that. She was going to live to be an old old lady, and sit knitting and scaring children.
"Don't say that Quisty. You'll see. Everything will be fine," Seifer tried to reassure her. She smiled at him again. Even he could tell that she was only agreeing to that for him. He wondered if he'd been here if she'd have deteriorated so rapidly? Or if he'd returned one of her calls?
"I want you to know something..." Quistis winced. Seifer leaned forwards. What was it she wanted to tell him? "When I called you, I longed to just shout it down the phone. But I couldn't... You had to come back because you wanted to..." She began to cough again. Seifer hung his head in shame. She was so fragile, like a butterfly being tossed in the wind.
"I wanted to come back Quisty, but it-it would have destroyed me... Hyne, forgive me!" Seifer begged. Quistis gently reached up and brushed his face, where her fingers touched left tingling. Seifer let her hand fall and looked into her eyes.
"You have a daughter Seifer," Quistis said. There were gasps of shock all round. Seifer almost fell off his seat. A daughter? How? Well that was pretty obvious, he didn't need that explaining. He thought he'd had a hard time, to Quistis it must have been a nightmare. Watching as the child grew, tormenting her. Seifer felt even more wretched and guilty.
"Why didn't you tell me? I'd have come back. Hyne Quistis! I'd have bloody well married you! Now look at us... I think we're both dying..." Seifer put his head in his hands. He felt Quistis try and grab his hands, but she couldn't move that far. Seifer lowered them, everyone could see the tears on his face.
"You must look after her, her name is Aliasha. I love you Seifer..." He breath became even more laboured and she gasped as a look of pain dashed across her face. "Squall, Selphie, Zell, Irvine, Rinoa, Vera, I love you too. Please don't grieve for me. I'm w-w-with always," The last word was barely a whisper. Quistis reached for Seifer's hand and then closed her eyes. Seifer knew what she was doing.
"No! Don't give up Quisty! Please!" Seifer cried in despair. Quistis took one last shuddering breath and went limp, her hand falling from Seifer's grasp. Once more Quistis Trepe was peaceful...
The whole gang stood outside Ma Dincht's house. Seifer grinded his teeth. Quistis, beautiful, loving, fairy princess, Quistis, was dead. She would never leave a message on his answer phone. Never marry him. Never kiss him. She'd never walk into his life. Never again. Seifer was finding it hard to handle. She couldn't be gone. Quistis was always there, no matter what. She was the mother hen. She was the sister. She was the lover. She was the mother.
"I can't do this," Seifer said, finally. The entire gang turned to look at him. Seifer hung his head. He was failing her again. He couldn't help it though. Quistis was dead. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to be with her forever. He just couldn't walk into that house.
"Seifer, it was her dying wish. I though you'd respect that," Squall said quietly. They had all been hit hard by this. Seifer had to remember that. He couldn't however, take another step towards the door.
"You should know by now Squall. I'm a coward. I'm taking the coward's way out of this. I'm running, finding a nice quiet place and I'm gonna kill myself. A nice Seifer free world. I can't live without her Squall! I bloody can't!" Seifer stood up as straight as he could. He was a coward with pride at least. A coward that would at least make sure that everything was in order before he left. "Squall, Rinoa, I entrust you with care for her. Make sure she grows up to be like her mother."
Seifer was about to leave when the door burst open and a cry of "Uncle Zell!" echoed down the empty street. Seifer watched as a girl, who looked so much like Quistis had when she was little, ran out and threw her arms around Zell's leg. Zell tried to pry her off, but didn't succeed. Seifer watched, yes, she was definately his. Although she looked like Quistis, she had his colour eyes. The little girl looked up and blinked at him a few times.
"Who's that?" She asked. Seifer bit his lip. The truth, the girl needed the truth. At least then she'd know from her father's mouth, not from rumour or what these guys told her.
"I'm your father," Seifer said. The little girl detatched herself from Zell and padded towards Seifer. Seifer knelt down, still towering above her. She looked into his face, then she smiled and hugged him. Seifer hugged back, trying to hold back tears. This child could have been Quistis sixteen years ago. The one Seifer had thought was a fallen angel.
"Why are you sad?" She asked. Seifer took a deep breath. Hadn't Ma Dincht told the girl. Seifer took the little girl's hand.
"You mother's d- gone away. She won't be coming back," Seifer explained, wishing he was better with his words. The little girl didn't cry however but she kissed her father's cheek. Seifer felt the feeling of pride well up inside him. She was strong. He knew she'd be safe when he left.
"She's gone somewhere better. She'll watch over me everyday. Ma Dincht says that when I feel the warm southern breeze that it's mommy. She says that when I'm scared, mommy will be with me, just like she was when she was here. And that mommy's in a place where she can eat cheesecake and ice cream all day without getting fat," The little girl giggled. Seifer looked passed her to Ma Dincht. Ma Dincht had been crying. Hell, they all had. Seifer pulled the little girl into his arms and then kissed her forehead.
"I'm going to leave you here. I am coming back for you. I promise. I don't think I can be a coward and leave you. Until I do get back however, I want you to stay with Uncle Squall and Aunt Rinoa. I take it you call them that, if not then I want you too. I want you to do exactly as I say until I get back. Then, we'll see, maybe we can get to know each other?" Seifer let the little girl go and stood up. She stepped back.
"I will daddy. I want to get to know you. Could we go to HappyLand? I always wanted to go, but mommy never had time," The little girl strained her neck to see him. Seifer nodded. She whooped and ran inside. Seifer turned to the remaining gang.
"I'm coming back for her. I promise you. But-I need some time to myself. I'm sure you understand," Seifer walked to the train station and bought a return ticket. He stepped onto the train.
Newsflash! A train on the way to Deling City crashed. Emergency services report no survivors. Hyne let them rest.
Two people, so close, so far away...
Seifer watched Quistis lovingly. She was only at peace when she was asleep. She was truly beautiful. He had been the first to admit feelings for her, and at first Quistis had ignored him and continued in pursuit of Squall. Something had happened though, and last night Quistis had come to Seifer's dormitory.
Of course she'd spent the night there. Seifer had thought Christmas had come early. Yet something else had made Seifer's pulse quicken. Quistis had admitted she loved him. The one thing he had dreamed of, ever since he'd mistaken her as an angel on her first day at Edea's Orphanage.
Now Quistis was asleep in his arms. Seifer knew that soon Quistis would come to her senses and leave hurriedly with cold words. He would see if she remembered last night, if she had been drunk then he'd tell her nothing had happened, and that would be that. But alcoholic influence had never made Quistis do anything like this before. Not even when she'd got drunk at Squall and Rinoa's wedding.
"Seifer?" Seifer snapped out of his thoughts. She was stirring in his arms. He gently released her, so she could get up. He was surprised when she pulled herself closer to him.
"Snuggle," She ordered, in a way that reminded him of Selphie. Seifer helplessly obeyed her command. Quistis still demanded a lot of respect, even after, well, this.
"Instructor? I think we need to talk," Seifer said reluctantly. It was out of habit he called her Instructor now, as both were Instructor's and on equal ground. He turned his mind back to the present. He wanted to stay like this forever.
"I know Seifer," Quistis replied. She sounded sad and tired. Seifer knew she had every reason to be tired, then punished himself for thinking about that again. He admitted, it probably was true that men thought about it every five seconds.
"You don't think it'll work?" Seifer asked. He felt her begin to turn herself, so she could look into his eyes. The thought of being read, having his deepest desire revealed, both scared and excited Seifer. Maybe if she saw how much he wanted this to work, maybe then she'd stay?
"It won't," Quistis said sadly. Seifer met her eyes. She was crying. So was he.
"I suggest you get dressed," Seifer managed to say. She nodded. He lay in bed and waited until she'd got out of the shower, before getting in himself. He tried to pretend to himself that last night was a dream. That it was only a really nice dream. But he couldn't. Last night had happened. It had happened. It would torment Seifer for the rest of his life.
Seifer dressed in the bathroom. He had to meet Fujin and Raijin for lunch, then he had to go and see "Commander" Squall, to try and get the stingy git to give the disaplinary committee a higher budget. Only when he slipped into the main room of his dorm did he realise that Quistis was still there.
She looked radiant as ever. Her golden hair had been left down, her clothes, though slightly creased, highlighted areas of her body that Seifer would rather they didn't in the circumstances. The only thing that was wrong was that she was crying. Seifer swallowed, he wasn't strong enough to let her go after all.
"I will always love you Seifer," She said quietly, then turned quickly and left. Seifer waited until the door had shut and punched the wall. He left a little heart-shaped dent in the wall. He spat on the floor and went to get his trenchcoat. He swept through the corridors, giving detentions to students for looking at him and breathing.
Seifer headed straight to Squall's office. Though Squall was his nemesis, he was also his brother. This was the side that Seifer was going to try to appeal to. He barged into Squall's office and saw something that made him wish he'd taken up knocking. Rinoa was already heavily pregnant. Seeing her tongue-wrestling with Puberty Boy was slightly sickening, though he was sure they had done much more. Unless Rinoa's pregnancy was the act of Hyne, and she was a freak of nature. Seifer cleared his throat loudly. They sprang apart.
"Seifer! Haven't you heard of knocking!?" Rinoa asked angrilly. Seifer ignored her and walked straight up to Squall, took him by both shoulders and made him look into his eyes. Stormy grey met dazzling green.
"You gotta give me a transfer! I'll go mental if you don't! I know that would amuse you to see me rocking, hugging my knees but- please. Just send me to Trabia, Galbadia, anywhere. Just don't keep me here!" Seifer blurted out. Pretty pitiful, but Squall was serious as ever. Seifer knew that Squall knew that things must be real bad for Seifer to give up his home.
"What have you done Seifer? Who's up the duff?" Squall asked, impatiently. Seifer snorted. Then a cold realisation hit him. What if...? No, Quistis was more sensible than that, she'd be on the pill. He couldn't tell Squall what had happened though. It was against Garden policy for Instructor's to sleep with each other, out of wedlock. They would both lose their Instructors licences and that would kill Quistis. She'd been hard hit the first time.
"Please Squall! You've gotta let me go!" Seifer begged. "Squall, I'll get on my hands and knees and beg if I have to!" Squall seemed to think that this had gone far enough and turned to some paperwork on his desk.
"Trabia are short of a Gunblade Specialist Instructor. I'll inform them of your transfer. They'll expect you by this evening. Now shift it. I have important business to attend to," Squall gestured to the door. Seifer saluted and was just about to leave when he decided one last jibe at the Commander wouldn't hurt.
"I could see that when I came in!" He called over his shoulder.
Quistis went up to Squall's office. She had to talk to him about Seifer. She had tell him that she would be giving up her Instructor's licence for him. She had to talk to someone. She'd rather lose her dream job than the heartless bastard that she had fallen in love with.
She knocked at the door. It sounded like a heated arguement was happening within the office. She heard Rinoa shout something and Squall reply in calming tones. She heard Rinoa shout at him, the sound of crashing, then she heard Squall shout back. Quistis bit her lip. Perhaps this could wait a while? The door flew open and Rinoa stormed out.
"Quistis? Ah, I suppose you heard that..." Squall said. Quistis nodded. Yes, Rinoa had thrown all of Squall's paperwork on the floor and thrown, what appeared to have once been, a plate. Squall followed Quistis's gaze.
"Yes, we had a bigger fight than usual. Seifer came up and asked for a transfer. He's left, Rinoa thinks I should have persuaded him to stay. He was really set on leaving though, said that staying here would make him go crazy. He begged. Rinoa's sulking now and I am the one who has to pick up the pieces," He looked around the room. "Literally."
Quistis didn't believe her ears. Seifer had wanted to leave nad jumped at the first chance. Maybe he wasn't worth it after all. Maybe to him it had just been sex? Quistis thought about it. Why had he cried then? Why had he looked so unhappy? Quistis longed for him to love her, but maybe he hadn't after all. Maybe he'd been drunk?
"Quisty? What's wrong? You look like someone's hit you in the face!" Squall said, walking up to her. She bit her lip and then decided that Squall wouldn't understand. Instead she just fell into his arms and cried. She cried and cried until she was exhausted. Then she left, without a word of explanation to Squall.
Quistis stared. Two little blue lines...
Quistis would begin to show soon. She had to go on vacation. Maybe the Centra Continent? She had to get away. She couldn't admit to peope who the father was. They wouldn't understand. They wouldn't. She sighed and stood up from behind her desk. There was only one person who Quistis could turn to.
She locked her office door and walked the familiar route. She often helped in the Infirmary, Doctor Kadowaki would instruct her on the finer points of medicene and the knowledge came in handy on the battle field. She and the doctor had made a little pact of trust. Neither would tell anothers secret. Quistis knew quite a few of Kadowaki's, or Vera, as she was now known to her. Cid had a good reason to keep Vera happy.
Quistis walked in and saw Vera sitting, happily doing nothing very much. The plump woman raised her eyes to Quistis and then greeted her warmly.
"How are you Quisty? Everything ok?" She asked. Quistis shook her head and sat down next to the happy doctor. The doctor immediately looked concerned.
"I'm pregnant, Vera. Four months pregnant... What am I going to do? I-I don't think the father wants to know and- oh Vera! What am I going to do? I won't give it up for adoption, but-" Quistis gave in and just stared at Kadowaki hopelessly. The doctor pursed her lips. She knew that Quistis was hiding something.
"I want you to tell me everything Quistis. Then I want you to go on vacation. Have the child, and I'll have a word with Ma Dincht. She'll look after it when you're working," The doctor said sternly. Quistis nodded, not daring question the doctor. "Now tell me the story..."
Quistis started at the part when Seifer said he'd loved her. She had tried to skirt around the fact they had sex, but Kadowaki wouldn't let her, making her put it plainly, so that apparently, she could accept it. Then Quistis told the bit where Seifer disappeared to Trabia, and how he didn't want to know. He wasn't answering her calls. Kadowaki clucked her tongue sympathetically.
"I'll tell Ma Dincht about this, you can stay there for a while after the birth. Get used to being a mom. You can go to Esthar. Ellone and Laguna will look after you there. Until then, you'd better enjoy the warm glow that you've given a little being a chance at life," Doctor Kadowaki said, optimistically. Quistis smiled weakly. Yes, there was some pride in that at least. Then something struck her. If she kept the child, lived in the Dincht household, left the child with Zell's mom, then wouldn't Zell find out? Then all her friends would know!
"Zell can't find out," Quistis said firmly. Doctor Kadowaki giggled. Quistis looked at her, now wasn't the time for fooling about. Quistis however, noticed the Infirmary wasn't empty. Zell had been in there the entire time. Quistis blushed scarlet.
"How much did you hear?" She demanded. She couldn't be angry. She just wanted to find an answer, and she guessed that Vera's idea was the best plan so far. Ma Dincht would love looking after a little baby, and she wouldn't spoil the child, like she'd done Zell, because Quistis would still be around.
"Everything. Don't worry, Quisty. I promise I won't tell. Neither will my Ma. She'll look after it without any questions asked. I suggest you go tell Squall now. He has a right to know, before you do a disappearing act for the next five months," Zell said. Quistis jumped up and hugged him. Zell hugged back and they understood one another. Zell told someone, Quistis killed him. Quistis would treat him better or Zell would announce it over the tanoid. Zell was Quistis's brother, and though annoying at times, they loved each other, in a brother-sister relationship way. Quistis pulled away and sniffed. She'd better go and tell Squall then. This should be fun...
Quistis lay on the bed. She was asleep, but no longer peaceful. Her breath came in quick short gasps, her face contorted in pain after every breath. She was feverish and even when she was awake, she barely knew who her friends were. Apparently it was the disease, the madness, that was killing her.
It had been five years since Seifer had left Balamb Garden. The time had passed so slowly that Seifer felt as though it had been a lifetime. Each day he'd think about Quistis, wonder what she was doing. It turned out that she'd been in hospital most of the time. Seifer had ignored her calls for years, every month a teary call would be on his answer machine. When they'd stopped he assumed she'd given up on him. Then Selphie had rang, in tears. Quistis was on her death bed, and was calling his name.
He had left Trabia as quickly as he could and gone to Balamb Infirmary immediately. The entire gang was there. He'd ignored the strange looks that Zell, Squall and Doctor Kadowaki had given him and walked straight to her bedside. There he waited, hoping that if she woke up, she'd remember who he was. The others were silent, and Quistis's laboured breathing was the only sound.
"Seifer?" Her voice was faint, and fluttering, like a breeze. Seifer jumped and looked down. Her eyes were misty but there was recognition there. He smiled and kissed her forehead. She smiled too. Then she broke into a fit of coughing.
"I'm not going to last much longer," Quistis said quietly. Seifer grabbed her hand. She couldn't say that. She was going to live to be an old old lady, and sit knitting and scaring children.
"Don't say that Quisty. You'll see. Everything will be fine," Seifer tried to reassure her. She smiled at him again. Even he could tell that she was only agreeing to that for him. He wondered if he'd been here if she'd have deteriorated so rapidly? Or if he'd returned one of her calls?
"I want you to know something..." Quistis winced. Seifer leaned forwards. What was it she wanted to tell him? "When I called you, I longed to just shout it down the phone. But I couldn't... You had to come back because you wanted to..." She began to cough again. Seifer hung his head in shame. She was so fragile, like a butterfly being tossed in the wind.
"I wanted to come back Quisty, but it-it would have destroyed me... Hyne, forgive me!" Seifer begged. Quistis gently reached up and brushed his face, where her fingers touched left tingling. Seifer let her hand fall and looked into her eyes.
"You have a daughter Seifer," Quistis said. There were gasps of shock all round. Seifer almost fell off his seat. A daughter? How? Well that was pretty obvious, he didn't need that explaining. He thought he'd had a hard time, to Quistis it must have been a nightmare. Watching as the child grew, tormenting her. Seifer felt even more wretched and guilty.
"Why didn't you tell me? I'd have come back. Hyne Quistis! I'd have bloody well married you! Now look at us... I think we're both dying..." Seifer put his head in his hands. He felt Quistis try and grab his hands, but she couldn't move that far. Seifer lowered them, everyone could see the tears on his face.
"You must look after her, her name is Aliasha. I love you Seifer..." He breath became even more laboured and she gasped as a look of pain dashed across her face. "Squall, Selphie, Zell, Irvine, Rinoa, Vera, I love you too. Please don't grieve for me. I'm w-w-with always," The last word was barely a whisper. Quistis reached for Seifer's hand and then closed her eyes. Seifer knew what she was doing.
"No! Don't give up Quisty! Please!" Seifer cried in despair. Quistis took one last shuddering breath and went limp, her hand falling from Seifer's grasp. Once more Quistis Trepe was peaceful...
The whole gang stood outside Ma Dincht's house. Seifer grinded his teeth. Quistis, beautiful, loving, fairy princess, Quistis, was dead. She would never leave a message on his answer phone. Never marry him. Never kiss him. She'd never walk into his life. Never again. Seifer was finding it hard to handle. She couldn't be gone. Quistis was always there, no matter what. She was the mother hen. She was the sister. She was the lover. She was the mother.
"I can't do this," Seifer said, finally. The entire gang turned to look at him. Seifer hung his head. He was failing her again. He couldn't help it though. Quistis was dead. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to be with her forever. He just couldn't walk into that house.
"Seifer, it was her dying wish. I though you'd respect that," Squall said quietly. They had all been hit hard by this. Seifer had to remember that. He couldn't however, take another step towards the door.
"You should know by now Squall. I'm a coward. I'm taking the coward's way out of this. I'm running, finding a nice quiet place and I'm gonna kill myself. A nice Seifer free world. I can't live without her Squall! I bloody can't!" Seifer stood up as straight as he could. He was a coward with pride at least. A coward that would at least make sure that everything was in order before he left. "Squall, Rinoa, I entrust you with care for her. Make sure she grows up to be like her mother."
Seifer was about to leave when the door burst open and a cry of "Uncle Zell!" echoed down the empty street. Seifer watched as a girl, who looked so much like Quistis had when she was little, ran out and threw her arms around Zell's leg. Zell tried to pry her off, but didn't succeed. Seifer watched, yes, she was definately his. Although she looked like Quistis, she had his colour eyes. The little girl looked up and blinked at him a few times.
"Who's that?" She asked. Seifer bit his lip. The truth, the girl needed the truth. At least then she'd know from her father's mouth, not from rumour or what these guys told her.
"I'm your father," Seifer said. The little girl detatched herself from Zell and padded towards Seifer. Seifer knelt down, still towering above her. She looked into his face, then she smiled and hugged him. Seifer hugged back, trying to hold back tears. This child could have been Quistis sixteen years ago. The one Seifer had thought was a fallen angel.
"Why are you sad?" She asked. Seifer took a deep breath. Hadn't Ma Dincht told the girl. Seifer took the little girl's hand.
"You mother's d- gone away. She won't be coming back," Seifer explained, wishing he was better with his words. The little girl didn't cry however but she kissed her father's cheek. Seifer felt the feeling of pride well up inside him. She was strong. He knew she'd be safe when he left.
"She's gone somewhere better. She'll watch over me everyday. Ma Dincht says that when I feel the warm southern breeze that it's mommy. She says that when I'm scared, mommy will be with me, just like she was when she was here. And that mommy's in a place where she can eat cheesecake and ice cream all day without getting fat," The little girl giggled. Seifer looked passed her to Ma Dincht. Ma Dincht had been crying. Hell, they all had. Seifer pulled the little girl into his arms and then kissed her forehead.
"I'm going to leave you here. I am coming back for you. I promise. I don't think I can be a coward and leave you. Until I do get back however, I want you to stay with Uncle Squall and Aunt Rinoa. I take it you call them that, if not then I want you too. I want you to do exactly as I say until I get back. Then, we'll see, maybe we can get to know each other?" Seifer let the little girl go and stood up. She stepped back.
"I will daddy. I want to get to know you. Could we go to HappyLand? I always wanted to go, but mommy never had time," The little girl strained her neck to see him. Seifer nodded. She whooped and ran inside. Seifer turned to the remaining gang.
"I'm coming back for her. I promise you. But-I need some time to myself. I'm sure you understand," Seifer walked to the train station and bought a return ticket. He stepped onto the train.
Newsflash! A train on the way to Deling City crashed. Emergency services report no survivors. Hyne let them rest.