A Modest Proposal

Rinoa had been right. It had finally ended. That day. That very second when Squalls blade pierced her midsection followed by a sharp spray of ice crystals that tore at any vulnerable spot they could find. It was finally over. Her nor lifeless form fell to the ground leavening Squall the only one standing, the one left to pick up the pieces. Quite a lot to ask of someone who had endured so much, but it would be no problem for him… as long as Seifer was there… he could do anything.

And even now, three months after that fateful day, that's all he's waiting on. Waiting for Seifer to open his eyes and come back to him. The others have with hushed whispers of worry when he isn't looking. "Is this normal?" "I swear when he's not at work he's with Seifer." "It's like that's all that matters." To Squall it was. The only thing that mattered. He didn't care if it made him seem weak, or vulnerable, or flat out stupid for spending so much time with Seifer's unconscious form. When your emotions get to a certain point it's not even a choice anymore.

Luckily for our favorite lion three seemed to be a lucky number for him. For on the third month to the day that Seifer had been rendered unconscious by the searing attack was when it finally happened. He was by Seifer's bedside as usual, holding Seifer's hand in his, thinking, hoping, even praying that he would pull through. Both Dr. K and Matron had gone on for hours about possibilities and factors of damage. Frankly Squall couldn't t have cared less about anything else. All he wanted from this was the bottom line. Would Seifer live?

Squall sighed and leaned his head down on Seifer's chest, closing his eyes to all the frustration in the world. Weather it had been seconds or minutes since he'd begun using Seifer as his pillow (for the thousandth time might I add) it didn't matter… what did matter… was… his pillow was talking…

"So.. It dose sleep peacefully after all…" were Seifer's first musings as he pulled himself from the void.

Squall jerked up and gaped at Seifer with wide eyes misting over with tears almost immediately. "SEIFER!" He cried out lunging at the blond and pinning him in a ferocious bear hug.

"Squall…need…air…turning…blue…" Seifer choked out but only succeeded in getting the brunet to lessen his grip enough for air to flow freely to his lungs.

"For such a shrimp you sure do pack a punch," Seifer grinned arrogantly as Squall playfully punched him in the arm for that comment. "I take it I was missed?" He continued returning the embrace with as much force as Squall.

Squalls "Yes." was muffled into the curve of Seifer's neck tickling the sensitive hairs that grew there. The just sat their for a long time holding each other until Seifer moved to pull away. Squall very reluctantly released him, almost afraid that his he let got Seifer would fade away before his eyes. But his fear didn't last for long when Seifer cupped Squalls chin and brought their lips together in a deep passionate kiss. Seifer ran his fingers gently through Squalls chocolate locks, cradling his head as Squall fisted his hands around the material of Seifer's collar.

When that little issue of needing to breath came up again the pulled apart, but only just enough to breath, eyes still closed. Squall had no intention of leaving any time soon. He never knew that something as simple as Seifer's warm breath blowing over his face could be so comporting. He was so transfixed on that one thing that he hardly heard Seifer when he began speaking.

"I missed you too Ice prince, I missed you too." Squall gently rested his head against Seifer's shoulder only now realizing exactly how tired he was. They made a very cute scene just laying in each others arms Seifer leaning back against the headboard while stroking Squalls hair affectionately. Being blunt he'd be the first to admit how close to death he had actually come… He'd almost been torn from the only thing that had ever mattered. Now that he had a second chance he wasn't about to let that happen again. And he could finally get and answer to that question he'd begun to ask just before this whole Rinoa thing reared it's ugly head. "Squall?"

"Hm?"

"Marry me."

Okay, so it was more of an order than a request, but the tone of Seifer's voice and the look in his eyes when Squall pulled away a little to stare at him in utter shock, his own eyes wider than dinner plates, said more than the most talented poet cold ever say.

Seifer opened his mouth to offer something, a little joke to lighten the mood, a comment, something, but Squall beat him to it.

"Yes. Yes, definitely yes."

~~~

Squall slowly made his way down the narrow carpet, acutely aware of the man he walked arm and arm with. He took a few moment to glare, playfully at his father, who sat in the very first row. He still had to get revenge for his earlier offer to walk him down the isle. Okay so his hair was long and he had a slender build but that absolutely did NOT make him a girl. His father and his friends both had the strangest sense of humor, and hyne help him but he loved them all. As the short walk down the isle came to and end he turned to face the man who'd walked beside him. Seifer Almasy.

Squall had never been known to be the very sentimental type, but somehow he was swept over with a storm of powerful emotions as their eyes met and the final reality of that day sunk in. "Seifer…" He whispered very very quietly so that not even the priest, who was rambling in his ear by now, would hear. Seifer nodded his head slightly to show that he'd heard and Squall continued in the same barely audible whisper, "I just want you to know that you're everything to me… I love you Seifer…"

Seifer made no verbal response at first, he merely tugged Squall into him by their joined hands and dipped his head down for another of their famously intense kisses.

The poor priest stopped and stared a little clueless as to what to do next. Selphie, who was standing up front in one of the many attendants places coughed discreetly. "um… Squall…. Seifer….. He's not to that part yet…. Squall… Seifer….. Hello?"

Eventually they did get around to the part with the rings and the vows, and even then they still jumped the gun on the kiss. The priest just threw his eyes to the heavens in frustration and mumbled the closing statements as fast as he possibly could. In the applause that irrupted around them as the made their was down the isle Squall only heard one, soft spoken voice, and it was all he would ever need to remember. "I love you too Squall, with all my heart."

~~~

Squall ran his gaze over the ballroom of Balam where they'd decided to have the reception, searching for Seifer. They'd had a lovely time all evening, but at some point the girls had dragged Seifer away for a few dances and he hadn't seen him since.

Suddenly he was grabbed and half dragged half shoved out onto a nearby balcony by someone in a tux. Squall blinked a few times, letting his eyes adjust to the pale moonlight before he recognized who had removed him from the ballroom. He smirked at the taller man who was obviously frightened half out of his wits, leaning against the French doors, back to Squall, panting heavily.

"Something troubles you Seifer?" Squall said with a smirk.

Seifer turned to face him at last shaking and pale, "Quistis…. Whip… Damn I though she was supposed to be the calm one."

Squall arched an eyebrow and glanced over Seifer's shoulder into the ballroom. "Apparently not when she'd drunk."

Seifer scoffed at the brunet at last regaining some of his composure. "Easy for you to say Almasy. She like you!"

Squall had to smirk at Seifer's still shaken form as he sat down on one of the couches stretched out on the balcony. Perfect.

Seifer never saw it coming. One minute he was sitting comfortable on the balcony's couch, and the next Squall had quite sufficiently pinned him to the length of it. "Squall…" Seifer started in surprise to see Squall looming over his head.

"You forgot, Leonhart, I still owe you some revenge for pinning me to that wall." Squall murmured before dipping his head down for another ravenous kiss.