Disclaimer: I'm hoping and praying that I get the rights to Final Fantasy
VIII tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how it goes, but until then I
don't own FF8.
It Happened to Me Chapter 5- Christmas Eve
(Quistis's POV) I straightened my skirt quickly, brushing away the imaginary dirt. Carefully balancing the tray of hot cocoa, marshmallows, and still warm sugar cookies, I opened the kitchen door and made my entrance in the living room. Seifer sat on the floor in front of the fireplace. His expression was thoughtful and I wondered what could be making him act the way he'd been acting all evening. Quickly sidestepping the small but beautiful Christmas tree we'd set up in the corner of the living room, I set the tray down on the coffee table behind him. He turned his face up to mine and I couldn't help but smile at his innocent expression. Taking my hand, he pulled me down to sit on his lap and buried his face in my hair. I heard him mumble and I had to turn around slightly so I could hear him properly. His face was blank for a moment; I think he was collecting himself before his expression turned grim.
"Quis, I have something to tell you."
I was frightened at this point. "W-what is it Seifer?"
"I think I may be getting married."
I felt the blood rush to my head and the world spin around me. I struggled to stay conscious and keep the tears from falling. ". . . Why?"
He shrugged. "Because I'm in love."
My mind was reeling. How could he do this to me? I wanted answers. I wanted to yell, kick, and scream. Instead I sat in his lap and stared at my hands. "When?"
"I'm hoping for tomorrow."
Without even realizing what I was doing my head swung up and met his gaze. "You mean you've been engaged so long as to be getting married tomorrow and you led me on?"
He shook his head. "No, I haven't asked her yet. How do you think I should go about it?
"You want advice from me?"
"Yeah, you're my best friend Quis."
My jaw almost dropped. Best friends? Last time I checked we were so much more. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. "I wouldn't do it the overly cheesy movie style. Sure, it's nice, but it's just not original."
He nodded slowly, absorbing what I said while I crawled out of his lap and stood near our tree. I bit my lip, trying not to break down in front of my 'best friend'. I felt Seifer behind me, so close I could smell his after- shave. My vision blurred as the battle for self-control waged inside of my heart and mind. When I could see again I found a white gold ring with a moderately sized diamond on top. My breath caught and he leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"Quistis, will you marry me?"
Trembling and not trusting my own voice I reached out and took the fragile looking piece of jewelry from him, placing on my left ring finger. Still next to my face he spoke in a voice as quivery as mine would have been.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I spun around and pressed my face in his shirt, letting myself lose the battle inside. Tears poured forth in torrents and slowly but surely Seifer's shirt developed a rather large wet spot right down the front. When all that was left were my hiccups, he pulled away slightly and laughed at my tear stained face. I rubbed at the mascara lines I knew were there for a second or two before Seifer pulled my hands away and tilted my chin up.
"Why were you crying like that?"
"Because, you made it sound like you were going to get married to someone else."
"I'm sorry Quisty."
"Wait a minute . . . you said you were going to try to get married tomorrow."
"Yeah, I had Jason set us up a session with the Justice of Peace down in town hall. I anticipated the 'yes' and the consent to the wedding tomorrow, but it's cancelable just incase."
"What am I going to wear? What about all of our friends? We can't just go off and get married."
"Caroline and Jason will be our witnesses and I called all of your friends at Garden. Squall, Rinoa, Selphie, Irvine, Zell, and Nora will all be there. Caro got you a dress that she'll fit you into tomorrow morning."
My eyes filled for the second time in ten minutes and he hugged me to him while I sniffled. I took his face in my hands and brought his lips to mine. As things got heavier I found us reaching the point in which I would usually push him away and make him go home or at least stop. But this time I let him go and when his fingers began to roam, he pulled away enough to look me in the eyes, asking me silently. I nodded and stood on tiptoe to connect us again. He swung me up into his arms and carried me to my room.
(Seifer's POV) We lay together long after midnight, the rest of the presents and the hot chocolate forgotten. Her body was curled up to my side, her long blond hair fanned across my chest. I traced lazy circles across the baby soft skin of her back with one hand, the other resting behind my head. I wanted to wake her up and tell her that I loved her again and again. Turning slightly, careful not to jostle Quistis, I glanced at the clock, which read 1:57 am. Groaning, I closed my eyes, urging myself asleep. But sleep eluded me, I couldn't concentrate on sleeping with Quistis lying next to me the way she was. She shifted and I held my breath, willing her to stay asleep. Instead, her baby-blues opened wide and stared at me for a few minutes.
"Seifer, why do you want to marry me?"
I was startled. Why wouldn't I want to marry her? "Because sweetie, I love you."
Her brow furrowed, making her nose crinkle. "Why do you love me?"
"Because Quistis, you are you. I love the way you look when you think really hard. I love the way you can handle even the nastiest child with some maternal super power. I love the way act before you get your fourth cup of coffee in the morning. I love your pink bunny slippers and your childish mannerisms. I love the depths and emotions in your bright blue eyes. I love you."
She tilted her head and smiled at me. "I love you like that too . . . I even love the things that bother me, like when you tap your foot when your nervous."
I craned my neck and kissed the tip of her nose before settling back into the pillows.
"Seifer?"
"Hmmm?"
"What about kids?"
My eyes shot open. "You can't be already . . . can you?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No, I highly doubt it. But at the same time, do you want them? How many? That kind of stuff."
I stared at her a moment. "I want as many kids as I can handle. I want to live in the suburbs with my family. I want a dog or two."
The smile that I was graced with and the look in her eyes was reward enough. "Right answer . . ."
I shrugged. "It's not just what you want to hear. It's what I really want from life. Believe it or not, it's always been a dream of mine. Can you help me with my dream Quis?"
Nodding, her expression became tender and we kissed chastely. But then she kissed me again and I knew that the both of us would be struggling to keep our eyes open this afternoon.
Author's Note: Well yay! I love it! It has to be one of my favorite chapters. Le sigh . . . I hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to review! Thanks! Jess
It Happened to Me Chapter 5- Christmas Eve
(Quistis's POV) I straightened my skirt quickly, brushing away the imaginary dirt. Carefully balancing the tray of hot cocoa, marshmallows, and still warm sugar cookies, I opened the kitchen door and made my entrance in the living room. Seifer sat on the floor in front of the fireplace. His expression was thoughtful and I wondered what could be making him act the way he'd been acting all evening. Quickly sidestepping the small but beautiful Christmas tree we'd set up in the corner of the living room, I set the tray down on the coffee table behind him. He turned his face up to mine and I couldn't help but smile at his innocent expression. Taking my hand, he pulled me down to sit on his lap and buried his face in my hair. I heard him mumble and I had to turn around slightly so I could hear him properly. His face was blank for a moment; I think he was collecting himself before his expression turned grim.
"Quis, I have something to tell you."
I was frightened at this point. "W-what is it Seifer?"
"I think I may be getting married."
I felt the blood rush to my head and the world spin around me. I struggled to stay conscious and keep the tears from falling. ". . . Why?"
He shrugged. "Because I'm in love."
My mind was reeling. How could he do this to me? I wanted answers. I wanted to yell, kick, and scream. Instead I sat in his lap and stared at my hands. "When?"
"I'm hoping for tomorrow."
Without even realizing what I was doing my head swung up and met his gaze. "You mean you've been engaged so long as to be getting married tomorrow and you led me on?"
He shook his head. "No, I haven't asked her yet. How do you think I should go about it?
"You want advice from me?"
"Yeah, you're my best friend Quis."
My jaw almost dropped. Best friends? Last time I checked we were so much more. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. "I wouldn't do it the overly cheesy movie style. Sure, it's nice, but it's just not original."
He nodded slowly, absorbing what I said while I crawled out of his lap and stood near our tree. I bit my lip, trying not to break down in front of my 'best friend'. I felt Seifer behind me, so close I could smell his after- shave. My vision blurred as the battle for self-control waged inside of my heart and mind. When I could see again I found a white gold ring with a moderately sized diamond on top. My breath caught and he leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"Quistis, will you marry me?"
Trembling and not trusting my own voice I reached out and took the fragile looking piece of jewelry from him, placing on my left ring finger. Still next to my face he spoke in a voice as quivery as mine would have been.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I spun around and pressed my face in his shirt, letting myself lose the battle inside. Tears poured forth in torrents and slowly but surely Seifer's shirt developed a rather large wet spot right down the front. When all that was left were my hiccups, he pulled away slightly and laughed at my tear stained face. I rubbed at the mascara lines I knew were there for a second or two before Seifer pulled my hands away and tilted my chin up.
"Why were you crying like that?"
"Because, you made it sound like you were going to get married to someone else."
"I'm sorry Quisty."
"Wait a minute . . . you said you were going to try to get married tomorrow."
"Yeah, I had Jason set us up a session with the Justice of Peace down in town hall. I anticipated the 'yes' and the consent to the wedding tomorrow, but it's cancelable just incase."
"What am I going to wear? What about all of our friends? We can't just go off and get married."
"Caroline and Jason will be our witnesses and I called all of your friends at Garden. Squall, Rinoa, Selphie, Irvine, Zell, and Nora will all be there. Caro got you a dress that she'll fit you into tomorrow morning."
My eyes filled for the second time in ten minutes and he hugged me to him while I sniffled. I took his face in my hands and brought his lips to mine. As things got heavier I found us reaching the point in which I would usually push him away and make him go home or at least stop. But this time I let him go and when his fingers began to roam, he pulled away enough to look me in the eyes, asking me silently. I nodded and stood on tiptoe to connect us again. He swung me up into his arms and carried me to my room.
(Seifer's POV) We lay together long after midnight, the rest of the presents and the hot chocolate forgotten. Her body was curled up to my side, her long blond hair fanned across my chest. I traced lazy circles across the baby soft skin of her back with one hand, the other resting behind my head. I wanted to wake her up and tell her that I loved her again and again. Turning slightly, careful not to jostle Quistis, I glanced at the clock, which read 1:57 am. Groaning, I closed my eyes, urging myself asleep. But sleep eluded me, I couldn't concentrate on sleeping with Quistis lying next to me the way she was. She shifted and I held my breath, willing her to stay asleep. Instead, her baby-blues opened wide and stared at me for a few minutes.
"Seifer, why do you want to marry me?"
I was startled. Why wouldn't I want to marry her? "Because sweetie, I love you."
Her brow furrowed, making her nose crinkle. "Why do you love me?"
"Because Quistis, you are you. I love the way you look when you think really hard. I love the way you can handle even the nastiest child with some maternal super power. I love the way act before you get your fourth cup of coffee in the morning. I love your pink bunny slippers and your childish mannerisms. I love the depths and emotions in your bright blue eyes. I love you."
She tilted her head and smiled at me. "I love you like that too . . . I even love the things that bother me, like when you tap your foot when your nervous."
I craned my neck and kissed the tip of her nose before settling back into the pillows.
"Seifer?"
"Hmmm?"
"What about kids?"
My eyes shot open. "You can't be already . . . can you?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No, I highly doubt it. But at the same time, do you want them? How many? That kind of stuff."
I stared at her a moment. "I want as many kids as I can handle. I want to live in the suburbs with my family. I want a dog or two."
The smile that I was graced with and the look in her eyes was reward enough. "Right answer . . ."
I shrugged. "It's not just what you want to hear. It's what I really want from life. Believe it or not, it's always been a dream of mine. Can you help me with my dream Quis?"
Nodding, her expression became tender and we kissed chastely. But then she kissed me again and I knew that the both of us would be struggling to keep our eyes open this afternoon.
Author's Note: Well yay! I love it! It has to be one of my favorite chapters. Le sigh . . . I hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to review! Thanks! Jess
