I love your reviews. Seriously. It's such a wonderful feeling - especially during finals week!

So, here goes:

- yes, last chapter was fluff. This one is as well. I wanted something cute, and it was a chance to drop a couple hints ...

- Quistis's mission - well, mentioning that was like a little inside joke for me ^^ Quistis's mission is leading into another story I am currently working on called 'A Shine Like Gold'. It won't be up for a while. Writing Quistis here has made me want to tell her story as well; 'Gold' will be an introspective as well as a story of what happens to her afterward. However, 'Cowboy' needs closure first. (Wink)

- I'm pretty sure Trabia never had a named Headmaster in the game (and if so, I'm making one up anyway.)

- The plot has a few interesting turns to make before we re-confront Vanesa and the forces behind that side-plot.

- I hate school ^^

Chapter Sixteen

homecoming



"Woo-hoo!!"

Irvine leaned back in his chair, relaxed, smiling at the familiar sound of Selphie in the Ragnarok cockpit. They had packed - hell, they hadn't even unpacked yet - and thrown the bags in the back; Selphie had launched herself at the controls as if they were a long-lost friend from her childhood. Irvine was so amused. Little chipper cheerful Selphie: all it took was a steering wheel to turn her into a raging devil.

The little speed demon was currently trying to scare the crap out of Irvine; but it wasn't working. Irvine liked speed and danger and excitement just as much as any cowboy. And the sight of Selphie at the wheel, grinning furiously as she revved the engines, was quite possibly the sexiest thing Irvine had seen in quite a while.

Wait. He hadn't meant to think that.

She dipped down over the ocean, skimming the waves skillfully. The girl did have a knack for high-speed chases, Irvine admitted, even if no one was really chasing them. "Had enough, cowboy?" she asked with a grin.

"No way," Irvine said. "Can't get enough of you."

Selphie pouted. "You're supposed to get all scared and stuff," she said.

"Oh, fine." Irvine playfully gripped the armrests on his seat as he had seen Rinoa do before. "SELPHIE!! You drive like a MANIAC!"

"Hah!" She burst out laughing. "That was great!"

Irvine wagged a finger at her. "As long as you know it wasn't real."

"Whatever," she said, and banked the ship. "Let's head off to Trabia!"

She slowed down slightly; the flight to Trabia was scenic and lovely. Trabia Garden stood alone on its own continent, founded in the midst of the elusive Country of Trabia. Elusive was the perfect word; Trabians generally weren't interested in being a country - or being anything internationally, really. The entire continent was littered with tiny villages, towns, and communes. None of them were large enough to earn a proper marking on any map. But overall the Trabian continent had been judged to hold enough potential that it was worth building a Garden there.

And thus Trabia Garden was born. Trabia had always been slightly different from its sister Gardens; even though it had no mother country like Galbadia or founding center like Balamb, its students had always been united for a common cause. It was an atmosphere that Trabia tried to foster rather than quell.

Selphie had been surprised when she came to Balamb; no one there had shown any interest in the Garden Festival, and she had resorted to asking people face-to-face in a lame attempt to scare them into saying yes (Selphie was the first to admit that she wasn't very intimidating). No one in Balamb had shown interest in anything other than themselves and their own tiny little worlds. There were groups of friends, yes, and it wasn't that everyone was self-centered - Squall had even shown her around on her very first day - but no one showed any interest in activities that benefitted the community as a whole. Selphie Tilmitt was shocked - her entire life had been centered around helping her Garden and her 'people'; why else would you be a SeeD if not to help those that needed it?

Trabia Garden itself was looming on the horizon, beautiful and desolate. The initial devastation of the Garden had faded, leaving the ruins looking historical and gentle, almost pristine. The graceful walls lay scattered in pieces; the bright, electrically-charged ring that had hovered and spun about the Garden's top had shattered, leaving sparks over the snow. But things had improved from Selphie's last visit; the clutter of wreckage was slowly morphing back into a recognizable shape. But something as massive as a garden ...it would be years.

Selphie sighed, slowing the Ragnarok as she stared. In her mind's eye she saw Trabia as it had once been: tall and slender, twin towers spiraling sky-high, the shimmering ring that supplied Garden with electricity slowly rotating about the two towers as if admiring them. The snow in the background, the high mountains - and Selphie was a child again, seeing Trabia from far-off, and deciding that one day she would be a student in the graceful, castle-like building.

A soft touch on her hand brought her back to reality: Irvine reached over, squeezing her slender fingers gently with his, rough fingertips extending from black fingerless gloves. "Come on, Seff," he said gently.

Selphie smiled as she touched the controls once again. It was as if Irvine Kinneas could read her mind. And although it made part of her uneasy - the rest of her secretly enjoyed it. It felt desperately good to have a friend who understood, finally.

She gently dropped the Ragnarok to the ground right outside Trabia; they headed out of the ship. Selphie paused; taking a small control pad out of her pocket, she entered a code and pushed a button. There was a bright chirping sound, and a small light beside the door lit up.

Irvine gaped. "What's that?"

Selphie grinned. "It's a lock, silly. I programmed it."

"You what?"

She held out the keypad proudly. "I figured we should start locking her up, so I programmed a portable to lock it for us. It's kind of like a remote. It'll lock, unlock, and even start her engines if we're in a hurry."

"Ah, but does it chill the beverages?"

"You're an idiot."

Irvine slugged her arm playfully. "You should make a button that'll put the beers on ice for us, and start up the grill. And one that orders a legion of bikini-clad women to serve the food."

"Right." Selphie stuck out her tongue. "Bikini-clad women. I'll be sure to install that one."

"Or just install yourself in a bikini," Irvine smirked. "That's just as good."

Selphie smacked him. "Vin! Behave yourself."

They headed into the remains of Trabia. A small building had been set up nearby; a makeshift trailer with offices, obviously portable and temporary, serving for administration duties. The rest of the garden was slowly shaping up; there were teams of students and construction workers at work currently, concentrating on moving the larger beams that had collapsed to make room for a new framework.

"Here," Selphie said cheerfully. "They said to head to the offices. I bet it's over there."

The two SeeDs headed to the tiny trailer; Selphie greeted the receptionist with a squeal.

"Cassie!!"

Selphie dropped her bag and almost leapt over the desk in excitement. Laughing, the black-haired woman behind the desk put up her hands to ward off the attack, laughing.

"Bloody Ifrit, Selph! It's been ages!"

She slowly wheeled a wheelchair out from behind the desk, and Selphie sobered slightly, throwing her arms around the woman more cautiously. "Cass, what happened?"

The woman looked down with disgust. Her hair was long and silky, black smoothness falling past her shoulders. Her eyes were brilliant blue, her face pale. "It was the missiles," she said to Selphie. "I was caught in debris. They expect it to heal, but we'll see."

"I'm sorry, Cass." Selphie wrung her hands. "We're here to help."

Cassie's eyes flicked upwards and landed on Irvine; handsome cowboy, standing slightly off to the side, fringy bangs falling from under the black hat. "Who is that?" she asked, a slight hint of admiration in her voice.

Selphie beamed. "Irvine, meet Cassie," she said, reaching out to take his hand. "Cass, this is Irvine Kinneas. SeeD from Galbadia, graduated at Balamb. We grew up together."

Cassie grinned. "My, you've been busy, Selph. How exactly did you grow up with this Galbadian SeeD if you were here at Trabia?"

"Stop teasing me. We lived in an orphanage together before we came to Garden, you doof." Selphie's face turned slightly red. "We're here to meet with the Headmaster. Is..." She paused. "Who is the Headmaster? Is it still...?"

Cassie sighed, and a look of sadness washed her pale features. "Headmaster Abrya died in the missile crash," she said softly. "Well, not in the crash - shortly afterward. Headmaster Shain - they instated Headmaster Shain a week after the missile crisis. He's new, but he knows what he's doing."

Selphie bowed her head. "Abrya was ...she was so good..."

"Well." Cassie commanded a smile across her face. "Shall I direct you in?"

"How'd he get you as a receptionist?" Selphie asked suddenly, a smile tickling her lips as well.

Cassie grimaced playfully. "What else was I going to do with all these injuries?" she asked. "I was trying to help with construction. Besides," she said with a wink, "he's pretty cute. It's not a bad job."

Cassie punched a few buttons on her computer and then said, "Go on back, Selph. Last door on the right. See you later, Irvine."

They headed down the long trailer; Selphie knocked on the door. "Come on in," a deep voice said.

They were swept into a tiny office kept in meticulous shape; shelves everywhere, stacked with books and papers and information, file cabinets lining one entire wall. The desk before them, though covered with paper, was ordered in a way that they were immediately sure followed some divine design.

"I'm Headmaster Shain Sheridan. Welcome to Trabia."

Irvine blinked. The man shaking his hand was quite a shock - devastatingly handsome, relatively long black hair falling into his eyes and grazing the collar of his uniform jacket. Deep green eyes shone with a welcome. The handshake was firm, confident, and even authoritative. Overall, Shain Sheridan looked like he couldn't have been more than three years, tops, older than Irvine. Maybe four. What was a kid doing running a Garden?

Well, a voice in Irvine's head said, Squall's been acting as Headmaster for a while, and he's only eighteen. But this kid - he can't be more than - if he's older than twenty-three, I'll eat my cowboy hat.

Selphie was simply grinning. This guy is almost as cute as Irvine! Good job Cassie! She landed the right job for sure.

Finally, she drew her heels together and saluted. "Selphie Tilmitt, Trabia cadet; graduated through Balamb. It's good to be back, sir."

He came to shake her hand as well. "Welcome back, Tilmitt. I've been informed you'll be vacationing here?"

"Yes," Selphie nodded. "This is Irvine Kinneas; Galbadia trained, also graduated through Balamb. He and I are taking leave, and I wanted to come home."

Shain gestured to two chairs arranged on the other side of his desk. "I received your notification," he said as they settled in, "and I've reserved the room for you - our dormitories were the first thing reconstructed, and although they're still a little rusty I trust you'll find them acceptable."

Selphie smiled. "The place looks fantastic! I haven't been back in a while. You guys sure have made progress!"

Shain laced his fingers together on the desk. "Ever since - since I arrived in Trabia, reconstruction has been my main goal. SeeDs on the verge of graduation have been sent out; our operative SeeD cadets have been placed under the jurisdiction of the other Gardens. It is my goal to see Trabia's reconstruction in the next year or two."

There was a sense of determination and pride in the headmaster's voice that filled Irvine with confidence. He's much older than he seems, the cowboy thought; or, like Quistis, he acts older than he is. Maybe he's alright for this job.

"It looks great," Selphie said warmly. "Are you going to rebuild it like the original plans?"

"Yes," Shain replied. "Trabia was ...she was so ...there's no reason to do otherwise."

"Trabia was beautiful," Selphie said, completing the sentence that the Headmaster couldn't. "The old Trabia Garden was like a castle."

"While you're here," Shain said, the hint of authority back in his voice, "I wanted to ask you a question. I went through your records - security-related, you understand. I see you just completed a mission. May I inquire about it?"

Selphie paused. "I don't see why not," she said. "Completed missions are public knowledge, usually. Ask away."

"I was aware that of the operative teams assigned to the facade mission, one of them was from Trabia - recent Trabian graduates, reassigned to Galbadia Garden while we are undergoing reconstruction. I wanted to ask about their fate, and if you think that Trabia is in any danger."

Selphie bit her lip, and then shrugged. "The mission details are available on file," she said. "One Trabian operative was found to be in league with a Galbadian graduate, and is being charged with treason and subterfuge."

"Yes, I know," Shain said. "What I'm concerned with is your opinion of Trabia's security."

There was a pause, and then Irvine said with a slight drawl: "No offense, sir, but I doubt Trabia will be the target of any terrorist attacks. You guys have already been hit. No one's gonna waste bombs on this when they could target something else."

Shain blinked at Irvine's direct response, and then decided that he could respect it. "I have had that thought," he admitted. "But I wanted to make sure, and since you were coming here, I wanted to take the opportunity to collect your advice on Trabian operation."

"Well," Selphie thought aloud, "if the Trabian graduates aren't even under command here anymore, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Just keeping a general eye on things should be alright."

"I appreciate your opinion," Headmaster Shain replied good-naturedly. "So. What else can I do for you during your stay?"

"I was wondering if we could rent one of the SeeD cars," Selphie replied. "I'd like to go out and visit my foster parents in Gallia, and I doubt they'd take too kindly if we flew the ship there."

"Oh, yeah," Irvine said, cutting in. "You wouldn't have anywhere we could dock a spaceship, do you?"

Shain didn't blink an eye. "The famous Ragnarok?" he mused. "Headmaster Cid must think highly of you."

"We found the ship," Selphie exclaimed - not meanly, just more in excitement. "I was the first one to fly it! Would you like to see it?"

Amused, Shain gave her a half smile. "Maybe later," he said. "For now, you could probably keep it outside; we don't have any real vehicular storage yet, and the weather should be alright."

"As for a SeeD car," he said, reaching for one folder in the midst of a stack, "I anticipated as much, seeing as you're from the area. You'll find one reserved in your name, Tilmitt, from tomorrow morning."

"Great!" Selphie squealed. "Hey, how did you know I'm from around here?"

Shain smiled at her childlike antics. "I told you I checked your files," he said. "Headmaster Abrya kept close tabs on most of her upper-rank students."

Selphie bowed her head. "I'm sorry about Headmaster Abrya," she said. "Were you close to her?"

Headmaster Shain suddenly clammed up. "Yes," he said simply. "It was quite a tragedy."

"What happened?" Selphie asked innocently.

Shain sighed, his eyes distant. "She was injured in the accident, but no one really noticed; there she was, commanding the rescues and the reparations as usual. Then one day she collapsed." He paused. "She'd been caught under debris; she passed away of internal bleeding problems a week after the missile crisis."

"I'm sorry," Selphie whispered.

"She was - she was quite a woman," Shain said, again the stern Headmaster. "I take her as my role model; I can only hope to live up to her example."

Selphie smiled at him kindly. "It appears that you're doing a wonderful job," she said warmly.

"Can I have a student show you to your quarters?" Headmaster Shain asked.

"That would be fantastic," Irvine replied.

"Cassie, my secretary, will find you someone to show you the dorms," he said. "If there's anything else I can do for you, let me know."

"Thank you." Selphie, then Irvine, shook his hand. They headed out to the main room, where Cassie - currently on the phone - waved them into the hands of a nervous young student.

"My name's Ran," the boy said, brushing his bright red hair from his face. "I'll take you to the dorms."

They had taken all of two steps when he blurted: "Are you really Selphie Tilmitt and Irvine Kinneas?"

Irvine burst out laughing. "No, we're decoys," he said.

Selphie slugged him. "Of course we are!" she said brightly.

"You're so famous around here," Ran said nervously. "Did you really fly that spaceship outside?"

"Yup!" Selphie grinned. "It's great."

"We all watched you during the Sorceress War," Ran said, anxiety slowly fading. "Everybody knows who you are."

"Great," Irvine groaned. "Autographs, anyone?"

Ran flushed bright red.

"Hey," Selphie asked kindly. "Would you give us a tour?"

The redhead perked up. "Sure thing!" he said.

They walked around Trabia's ruins. Ran pointed out the classrooms, which had been decimated; and the cafeteria, a slightly dusty fixture. "The food's really good," he reassured them. "The room just doesn't look so hot."

He then took them past a gaping hole, behind which grew thick vegetation, slowly taking over the crumbled walls. "The missiles took out our Training Center," he explained. "It was really interesting around here the first week, Grats popping out of nowhere. We all just learned not to walk around alone, especially late at night. And we've all gotten TONS of experience form fighting them off."

Selphie giggled. "I can imagine it was pretty crazy."

"It was a little scary," Ran admitted. "They'd just pop over the walls like nothin'. But they're mostly gone now."

They picked their way through the rubble - "There's the basketball court" - and past the old tech room. The computers were all trashed, dusty and broken, wires spilling everywhere. Selphie gave a resigned sigh.

Ran finally trudged them up to their room. "These are our new dorms," he said. "They're only temporary, but right now they're all we got. Which ones are yours?"

Selphie looked down at the slip of paper in her hand - and blushed horribly.

"What's wrong?" Irvine asked, concerned.

"I, uh..." She blinked, and looked up at him sheepishly. "I only got one room."

Ran tried not to snicker.

Irvine laughed, relieved. "That's alright. We can share - we've done it before. On missions," he emphasized for their red-headed companion.

"I'm sorry." Selphie was horribly embarrassed. How could she have forgotten? Perhaps - it had been so natural to share a room with Irvine - was she looking forward to it?

This wasn't a mission, though. It was real life. She couldn't believe she had forgotten that.

Ran grinned, chastised. "Alright. The D-block is up this way - around that corner. You're D12. Pretty good room."

"Thanks, Ran," Selphie said. "We should be able to make it from here."

The redhead grinned at them and took off at a jog.

"Irvine," Selphie began again as they lugged their things into the dorm room, "I'm so sorry. I completely forgot -"

He reached out and put a hand on her arm. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. "It's not a big deal. If you're uncomfortable about it, I'll sleep on the couch."

She smiled wryly. "I'm not - uncomfortable - it's not that. I just ... I wasn't thinking."

"Seff," he said, reaching out and brushing her cheek. "We've slept together before - all through our battles, all our missions. Don't stress out." Then he winked. "Not like I'm gonna take advantage of you or something."

"Oh yeah?" she countered, more comfortable with his teasing. "Maybe I will make you sleep on the couch."

"Selphie Tilmitt," he said, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her, "if I were going to take advantage of you, I would have done it a long time ago."

She fought against his grip, finally freeing herself and stepping back. "Is that so?"

"Not really," Irvine said, making a face. "I prefer my girls willing."

"You are horrible!" She tossed a couch cushion at him.

This only resulted in a pillow fight; Irvine lunged for the throw pillows on the nearby chair, while Selphie armed herself with the other couch cushion. Mayhem ensued - mayhem, chaos, and a lot of giggling. Two sets of sore arms and one large mess later, they lay on the floor, exhausted.

"Hey, Seff," Irvine said. She grunted.

"Where do your parents live?"

"Huh?"

"You said -"

"Oh, foster parents." Selphie rolled over to look at Irvine. "Gallia is one of the little towns on the Trabian continent. It's not too far - maybe a half-hour drive. I used to visit a lot when I was at school here."

"What are they like?"

Selphie rolled back over, smiling at the ceiling. "Marcus and Tamara Devron. She's a seamstress; he's minor management down at the energy plant. Nice people - real cheerful." She laughed. "As you might expect."

"Devron?" Irvine asked. "Their last name?"

"Yeah," Selphie said, puzzled. "I dunno where 'Tilmitt' came from, then. I've never really thought about it before."

"Huh," Irvine pondered. "I wonder if..."

"If what?" Selphie was suddenly riveted. "Do you think...?"

"Well," Irvine drawled. "I know my people were named 'Kinneas'. Zell goes by 'Dincht', his Ma's name. And Squall - Squall's been going by Leonhart, though we know now that his family name's Loire."

"Do you think that my real parents were the Tilmitts?" Selphie asked, her voice hushed.

"I don't know, Seff." Irvine's voice was calming. "Don't get your hopes up. But we can ask tomorrow when we go."

She sighed. "I've never thought about that," she admitted.

"You couldn't remember anything," Irvine pointed out. "I'm sure that had something to do with it. You had no strings to tie together."

She grinned, excited. "I'll ask them tomorrow!" she exclaimed. "Maybe they'll know something! It's like a mystery, and we can try to solve it."

"Alright," Irvine said. "But mystery-solving girls need a good night's sleep."

They got ready for bed, pulling things out of their suitcases - still packed from the Deling City mission. Irvine smirked; what a true cowboy, living on the road, bringin' only what he could carry.

Selphie was looking at him oddly.

"Do you want me to sleep out here?" he asked softly.

She bit her lip, and then gave him a crooked smile. Awkwardly, she said:

"You don't have to."