Squall Leonhart was going to relax for the first time in a while. Rinoa Heartlilly lay in the passenger seat of the car, sleeping. He hadn't woken her since they left Deling City hours ago. As he drove towards Dollet he began to think. Ultimecia was gone, Edea had retired back to the orphanage with Headmaster Cid, and the Galbadian government had finally settled down. There are no more threats to the world, he thought. Unless you count Seifer, that is. Along with the Disciplinary Committee, the former Sorceress' Knight had temporarily inherited leadership of Balamb Garden, the reasons of which were totally beyond Squall.
Perhaps he would truly be able to rest now. Perhaps peace will last long enough this time. Rinoa is safe, and more importantly alive, and free of any outside influences. My SeeD salary should be enough for both of us to subsist on, or so I hope. Rinoa, who had been sleeping with her back to Squall, shifted onto her back, with her arms stretched towards the back of the car. She's so adorable… He had remembered Selphie telling him about their Zodiac signs. Squall was born on August 23, making him a Virgo, and Rinoa on March 3, making her a Pisces. "The best compatability," she had said, but Squall didn't really believe in that. At the Garden victory party, when they were outside on the balcony, he knew that he had found his true love. Nothing, he thought, can ever take her away from me.
Rinoa woke up some time later. She yawned and stretched her thin arms, bumping them on the roof of the car. Squall looked over at her and saw her smiling brightly at him. He couldn't help but smile back, despite his resistance.
"Are we there yet?" she whined playfully. "Why couldn't we have taken the train?"
"Because Galbadia appropriated all the trains for government use," he replied.
"You mean they stole them." Rinoa still held a grudge against the Galbadia Garden, despite how many of them were being controlled by Edea.
"And we need a car to get around the town. Besides, don't you think its more scenic?"
"No." she said firmly. "I would much rather have seen the forests move by quickly than the plains move by slowly."
"Well, you're out of luck."
"Humph." She crossed her arms and turned away from him in mock-defiance. "So tell me what the house is like again."
"Well, it's got a blue roof…" Squall had visited Dollet previously with Quistis and Selphie, both of whom were looking for similar residences. The city of Dollet had graciously allowed SeeD members free rent as long as they agreed to act as a sort of militia force in emergencies. Squall had no compunctions about being a constable, as long as it didn't involve killing. He had done enough of that in his lifetime. The two girls had backed out. Quistis had said something about not owing allegiance to anyone anymore. Squall had chosen a small duplex in the city's east section for the two of them to live. "…And it's got a stairway leading up to the bedroom." It was also very close to the police station, where Squall was to be working.
"Are the others going to live nearby?" Rinoa asked wistfully.
"Zell and Quistis are moving back to Balamb. Quistis was talking about keeping an eye on Seifer, or something." Rinoa chuckled. "Selphie and Irvine are going to have a house near Trabia. Selphie wants to help with the Garden reconstruction effort, and Irvine will go wherever she does." Rinoa chuckled again.
"We'll have to visit them sometime."
"And Laguna." Rinoa looked surprised.
They finished the rest of the trip uneventfully. Rinoa chatted about Angelo (who was in a cage in the back seat) and how Zell had taught her how to throw punches. Squall remarked that she was better off using magic, which earned him one of the punches. He's definitely warming up more… Rinoa thought. Maybe there's hope for him yet.
The couple arrived in Dollet and carried their luggage up to the apartment. Another house was directly below theirs, but looked vacant. Angelo immediately set to work finding every tree, bush and rock where any other dog had even walked by, then trotted up the stairs to see Rinoa.
Squall immediately set his gunblade case on the highest shelf, where he knew Rinoa couldn't reach it. He hoped that he would never have to use the weapon again, for any reason. He had considered leaving it at Balamb with Zell, but Rinoa wouldn't let him. She wanted to be as safe as possible. They had enough Gil for a week's food and some clothes, but until his next paycheck came in they would have to sit on empty boxes.
Rinoa put up some makeshift curtains and began to sweep the floors. She was so happy to be living in a town near the sea, and so close to some of her friends. She had gotten to know the tattooed boy well, but the stern teacher and her never seemed to connect. It was her belief that Zell wanted to be with Quistis out of loneliness rather than love. After all, she thought, Squall and I are together, and Irvine seems to be sincere in his feelings about Selphie, so where does that leave them? She continued cleaning as she mused about the handsome man on the floor above her. She was happy to be anywhere near him, living together or not.
