Authors Note. I don't own any of the characters. Started a new story. Also working on my others. My computer passed away quite a while back and I had to save for a new one. I plan on posting regularly again. I hope you like this. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Exiled Mind

Chapter One

"Squall to the Quad please! Repeat: Squall Leonhart to the Quad please."

Rolling over to glance at his bedside clock, Squall let out an exasperated sigh. 0800hrs on his day off and he still found himself being paged over the intercom. Apparently taking personal leave still wasn't enough to escape his duties as Commander of Balamb Garden. 'Next time I take a personal day, I'm sneaking out in the middle of the night and hiding in another country.'

Getting up out of bed as silently as possible, hoping not to wake Rinoa, Squall glanced down and realized that she was already gone. 'Hmm, she must have taken Angelo for his run.' Stepping over to his dresser he quickly dressed and attempted to brush his unruly hair into some semblance of order. Giving up after a few moments he went to the small bathroom and brushed his teeth and grabbed some deodorant.

Once done, he grabbed his gunblade and jacket and stepped out into the hallway. After locking up he turned and strode down to the central corridor that led to the Garden Proper, passing several other SeeDs who promptly stepped out of his way and gave a hasty salute. Nodding at them, he quickly made his way to the center of garden and turned to head to the Quad. Glancing around he noticed for the first time,that other than the two men he had passed in the Dorm Hallway there didn't appear to be anyone else around. In fact, the only sound to be heard was the soft gurgling of the multiple waterfall's and the artificial stream circling around the central pillar of Garden.

Making his way around the central column he soon found himself at the entrance to the Quad. Sitting on one of the benches by the entrance he saw Irvine Kinneas resting with his hat over his face and his head tilted back as if asleep. At the sound of Squall's footsteps, Irvine slid his hat back up on his head and quickly stood.

"Hey, Squall, just the man I was looking for."

"You call that looking? It looked more like sleeping to me." Squall replied to him. Even though his voice never raised and he made no obvious facial expression, Irvine could tell he was slightly ticked at being called on his day off.

"Hey buddy, I have the ears of a sharpshooter. I can hear a pin drop or a mouse at fifty yards. In fact…."

"Whatever. Why am I needed in the Quad? And where is everyone? I hardly saw any people the whole way down here. If someone decided to attack the Garden right now they could take half of it before we knew they were here."

"Hey, don't ask me? I just know that Quistis asked that I wait here to make sure you showed up. All she told me was there was something important and we needed to get there ASAP." Irvine answered.

"Fine! Let's go then." Squall turned and without waiting to see if Irvine would follow, began making his way into the main area of the Quad.

Once he reached the base of the stairs he stopped to wait for Irvine to catch up and began to look around to try and find what was so important that Quistis had felt he needed dragged out of bed on his day off. Once Irvine caught up to Squall he looked around for a moment before turning to his friend. "Hmm. That's strange I don't see her. Hey Squall I'll check over aroound the trees, why don't you check the Stage area."

"Whatever." Squall said before noticing that Irvine had already trotted off towards the edge of the Quad. Turning back he made his way towards the stage. As he walked he glanced around and noted that the reconstruction appeared to be well under way. The area of floor that broke during Galbadia's attack had been repaired and actually enlarged. The stage itself was also close to being finished. Currently it was hidden from view by a large sheet running from one end to the other.

Squall turned and began making his way towards the stage. He was almost to the stage when from behind him came the sound of someone blowing a shrill whistle. At the sound of the signal the sheet in front of him suddenly dropped.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Squall found himself confronted by an evil worse than Ultimecia. All his friends and a good portion of the garden stood on the stage or around it clapping and waving at him. Rinoa, standing in front jumped off the stage and dove into his arms. Giving him a quick kiss on the cheek she stepped away and pulled him forward.

"Surprise! We figured the only way to get you to come to your own birthday party was to trick you." She said as she continued to drag him up on stage and into the middle of the throng of well wishers.

Squall, finally able to find his voice, turned to Rinoa. "How did you know it was my birthday." He asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Rinoa, instead of answering simply pointed to Quistis, who was standing nearby, stepped up and hugged Squall before answering. "It's in your personnel file upstairs. We knew you weren't planning on telling anyone so we planned everything during your last mission."

"Selphie planned most of it but we all had assigned duties," added Rinoa, "Like Irvine; he was watching you to make sure you didn't bolt when we surprised you."

Great, now everyone knew his birthday. Looking one last time at the entrance to the Quad and realizing that escape was futile Squall turned back and followed Rinoa as she took him around to all the people wanting to say Happy Birthday. Nodding to several people he followed Rinoa until she finally led him to a table near the celebration. Well it was bound to happen eventually he figured as he watched people talking and laughing. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. As long as they don't sing.

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As Rinoa led Squall away, Quistis turned to find Irvine and Selphie standing next to her. "Well, he didn't kill anyone or try jumping off the Quad." Quistis noticing Irvines dejected look asked him what was wrong.

"I made a bet with Zell about what he would do when we dropped the curtain." He replied. "Looks like I lost." Laughing at Irvine's remark, Quistis waved to them and began making her way through the Quad in search of Rinoa and Squall. She soon found them sitting at a table near the stairs leading out of the Quad. Noticing the red flush on Squall's cheeks she couldn't help but giggle again. Never thought I'd see the day that Squall would blush.

"Care if I join you guys?" She asked and sat down when they nodded. "So what are your plans today?"

"I'm taking Squall out to lunch and then we were going to Edea's old orphanage to relax for a few days."

"We are?"

Yes Squall, I already talked to Xu and she is more than happy to cover for you. She said something about you refusing to take very many days off. So the matter is closed! No discussion!"

Squall sat stunned for a second as he processed this new information. Well, he did spend all his time here working and to be honest it would be nice to spend some extra time with Rinoa for a change. "Whatever." Glancing back and forth he realized that both Quistis and Rinoa were turning bright red, then at exactly the same time they both began laughing uncontrollably. All Squall could do was rest his head in his hands and sigh.

To be continued.

More Authors notes: I was going to make this chapter longer but the story will turn pretty dark soon so I wanted to split up and extend some of the beginning chapters. See ya.