Well, hello again.

I was hoping to have this story finished up - or at least partially concluded - by the time I finished school and left on vacation (a week in CANCUN, yes, please be jealous ^^). However, that doesn't seem to be happening; finals plus moving plus everything else are trying their hardest to make this difficult for me.

This means that the story is going to end up taking a major hiatus - I'll be out of commission from 10 May until 19 May, at least. Then I have to deal with moving in to my new apartment and actually getting my internet activated.

I'm very sorry to cut this right in the middle of the story - I'll try my hardest to at least reach a nice resting point before I vanish. It would totally suck to leave you guys with a cliffhanger, so I'll try not to be TOO mean.

And so. Here's a chapter. Thanks as usual for all the great feedback - I really appreciate it.





Chapter Seventeen

things in a box





They had taken to the road quite early, eager to get the half-hour trek under their belts. Selphie was behind the wheel, pedal to the floor, chattering away about her childhood life in Gallia.

"It's just a little town, Irvine, don't get excited. Most of Trabia gets along just from trading with each other, and since no one town has to make everything, they don't really. It's empty and boring and beautiful."

Irvine was watching out the window. The land was beautiful; the chilly hills of a northern climate, tall majestic pines and towering marble quarries.

"How's the farming here?" he asked, intrigued, remembering snatches and snippets of being a young farmboy; heat, sunlight. Dust and grit and sweat.

Selphie giggled. "Here, it's alright. The southern edge of the continent, below the Aspalas - that's the mountain range - gets enough sun and warm air off of the ocean that we can farm. Up north, past the Aspala ridge to the Shumi side of the continent, they depend more on importing."

"You sure know a lot about Trabia," Irvine commented, amused.

"Of course!" Selphie chirped. "I had to study it, silly. Plus Mum and Dad were always big on its history."

She pointed across a clearing to a tall structure standing in the distance. "See, most of Trabia's income comes from mining. Precious metals, ores, fuel. Even jewels in come cases. The northern towns are known for their metalworking."

"I didn't know that."

She grinned at him. "Not many people do. Trabia isn't very interesting unless it's your home."

The road before them made a lazy wide V; Selphie followed it to the right, hitting the gas. "We're coming up on the outskirts of Gallia!" she announced cheerfully. "Pay attention!"

"Why," Irvine smirked, "you gonna give me a quiz later?"

Selphie stuck out her tongue. "It's interesting, you big dummy," she said.

"Ohh," Irvine said, as if he had just realized something. "Is that it?"

"Are you bored?" Selphie's lips turned downward in a pout.

Irvine reached over to squeeze her hand. "No, I'm teasing," he said. "Lighten up."

She grinned. "I'm just really excited! I haven't been home in ages."

Irvine watched as they slowed down to pass through the beginnings of a small town. It reminded him a little bit of Winhill: lazy stretched-out farms, ancient and intriguing shops. They continued casually through a cross-way, over a bridge, and past an immense stone house, crumbling with age.

"This is all Gallia?"

"Yup!" Selphie proudly glanced out the windows as she drove. "Not much, but it's home."

"Not much?" Irvine whistled. "It's huge, Selphie."

"Yeah, but it's not a city," she said, biting her lip.

"It sure doesn't have to be," Irvine said, as they passed another immense castle of marble, this one in slightly better shape with a sign reading Gallia Inn and Pub before it. "It's enormous, and it's beautiful."

"You think so?" Selphie asked, pleased. "Here, this is what we called 'downtown'. Take a look."

It was certainly more pleasant than any real downtown Irvine had ever seen; streets lined with amiable shops and quaint little houses. Crumbling picket fence outlined a friendly cemetery; children swarmed around a playground and threw stones in a nearby pond. A couple cars casually turned in and out of the bank, the restaurant, the few business-like buildings.

"It was always so far away from everything," Selphie said wistfully. "It was great to be a kid here - but as you grow up, you realize that it's not entirely true. It's so sheltered."

Irvine was surprised. Somehow he had expected cheerful, energetic, computer-whiz Selphie to claim some bustling city as her hometown. Gallia was relaxed to the point of laziness, calm and serene and ancient. It was lovely in its own way.

Selphie turned in behind a small outdoor coffeeshop and parked the car on the road outside a small house. Cheerful burnt-red brick, creamy shutters, and a stone walkway beckoned them in.

"This is it!" Selphie was jumping up and down. "Come on, Irvine!"

They had only taken a few steps when the door was flung open and a cheerful voice called: "I thought I heard somebody! Come on, honey, they're here!"

Tamara Devron was a short, kindly looking woman with a brooking-no-nonsense air of energy about her. The soft wrinkles of age were beginning to show on her round face; her hair, cut short around her face and collar, was frosted with gray. She threw her arms around Selphie, both women squealing in excitement, and Irvine finally understood where Selphie had gotten her endless supply of spunk and energy. Soon behind, Marcus Devron caught Selphie in his arms, chuckling. The man was tall and thin, also softening with age. He looked gruff and cheerful.

Irvine grinned. He felt a small twinge of envy creeping up his spine - not as strong as jealousy - that Selphie had enjoyed such a friendly home. But he was happy for her - happy that she had enjoyed this much of a family. This adorable little town and such loving parents: it was a side to his Selphie that he had never before seen.

"Come on in, you two," Tamara said, ushering Selphie and Irvine into the small, cheery house. Flowers and bright yellow trim decorated a cheerful kitchen.

"Mum, there's a delicious smell coming from the kitchen," Selphie chirped. "What is that?"

"I made you cinnamon rolls," Tamara said, vanishing around the corner. "Coffee? Coffee for your friend?"

"For both," Selphie said. Reaching out to grab Irvine's arm, she said: "Mum, Dad, this is Irvine Kinneas. He's a SeeD too. We actually lived together at the orphanage, and we happened to meet up during our great adventures."

"Nice to meet you," Irvine said, shaking Marcus's hand.

Tamara's cheerful voice called from the kitchen: "Pleasure to meet you, son. I'll be right out. You know, Fia, this is the first boy you've ever brought home!"

"Mum!" Selphie turned beet red.

Tamara stuck her head around the corner, a smile wide across her face. "It's my only chance to tease you, goofhead," she said.

"Fia?" Irvine asked, a smile teasing his lips.

"Pet name," Selphie said with a grimace. "They thought it was cute."

They relaxed into the living room; Selphie and Irvine sat on the couch while Marcus took a comfortable chair. Tamara entered with a plate of cinnamon rolls and mugs of coffee and perched herself in a nearby rocking chair.

"So what's this big adventure you've been telling us about?" Tamara chirped. "We've even seen your name in the papers - are you famous?"

Selphie giggled. "Sort of," she said. And she launched herself into the story of the Second Sorceress War.

They listened, rapt, as she talked about her exam at Balamb and their first mission. She mentioned the Forest Owls briefly and then tried to explain the Sorceress. From there Irvine watched as the Devron's eyes grew wider and wider. Selphie kept chattering away, throwing in the explosion of the Missile Base, Garden's mishaps with flying, and the trip to Esthar. By the time she mentioned launching herself into space and the obtaining of the Ragnarok, both her foster parents had stopped chewing.

Laughing, Irvine reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Pause, Seff. They need to breathe."

"Good gracious!" Tamara exclaimed finally. "Fia darling, I don't believe it! When you said you were training to be a SeeD - does everyone do this sort of thing?"

Selphie giggled. "Not everyone has these problems, mum," she said. "The six of us - well, there were five of us from the orphanage, plus Rinoa. And it was kind of a fate thing."

"Let me get this straight, sweetie." Marcus leaned forward. "You fly a spaceship?"

Irvine burst out laughing. "Oh, does she ever," he said with a grin.

Marcus shook his head. "Still driving like a maniac, Selphie-Tee?"

Selphie closed her eyes and stuck out her tongue at everyone in the room. "You're-all-jerks."

Tamara swallowed her coffee, eyes still wide. "If I had known the danger, I never would have let you join that SeeD!"

Selphie rolled her eyes. "Oh, mum, I can take care of myself."

She continued the story, detailing the escapades in Esthar, the final rush of events with Rinoa, and the fated trip into Time Compression and Edea's Castle. Eventually she finished. There was a long silence.

"I know, mum, I wouldn't believe it if somebody else told me," Selphie urged. "But that's what happened."

"The future and the past? Fate?" Tamara blinked, and then closed her eyes in a wide smile. "Tut, Fia. I'll leave such things to you. An old woman like me should just keep cooking her cinnamon buns."

"Hear, hear," Marcus said, earning himself a glare.

"I just wanted to tell you guys everything," Selphie explained. "Whether you understand it or not. I know I sure don't understand it all. But that's my story!"

Tamara grinned. "I think it's fantastic that you've finally gotten back together with everyone from Edea's orphanage. Such sweet children, I remember. How is everyone?"

Selphie shrugged. "Much the same. We're all friends now..." she winked at Irvine. "And we'll probably be sticking around Balamb for a while. I got my Instructorship, and so I can teach classes there."

"Fantastic," Tamara crooned. "You'd be a wonderful teacher, Fia."

They bustled around for a while, allowing Tamara and Marcus to prepare lunch; it was already afternoon. Selphie's story had eaten up most of the morning. Selphie took Irvine on a quick tour of the house - "That's mum's room, my old room, the study, and - Tarra! Kitty kitty kitty!!" - and the backyard - "my swingset! Irvy, let's go play!"

Irvine watched Selphie, playfully laughing on her old swing, looking like a child in the bright yellow jumper with her shining hair flipped out in its usual fashion. He was pushing her on the swing as she chattered on about the games she used to play with her neighbors. Her eyes were bright with the memories, but every now and then a shadow passed over her face as she spoke of her friends and parents. Irvine knew without asking that she was thinking about everything she had lost: her real family and her memories. He wondered if she was planning on asking her parents about her last name and what it meant.

"Hey dears!" Tamara's cheerful voice called from the screen door. "Lunch is on the table!"

Irvine mused while they were eating. He had seen the way Selphie's face lit up when she connected with these things of her past. Could he, perhaps, find the rest of her past for her? He knew she wanted memories more than anything; but that was a hole that only time could fill in. But if he couldn't give her the memories she wanted, perhaps he could give her facts? Build a time-line around which she could structure her past?

Selphie and her foster parents were chattering away about something. Irvine thought harder. If there was only a way that he could bring her in touch with her real family. Not that there was anything wrong with Mum and Dad Devron. But he knew that Selphie, deep down and more than anything, wanted real roots to her past.

They eventually finished lunch; Irvine volunteered to do the dishes. "Oh no you don't," Selphie said, leaping from her chair to follow him. "You're my guest!"

Irvine, smiling, merely gathered as many dishes as he could carry.

"Not fair!" Selphie whined. "You're bigger. Put those down!"

"This is the first time I've ever been scolded for being helpful," Irvine murmured, laughter in his eyes.

"Shut up and let me help," Selphie said under her breath.

"Am I making you look bad?" he teased.

Selphie reached down into the sink and cheerfully splashed him a faceful of soapy water.

Spluttering, Irvine dropped his dishes and took off after her with the sponge.

A few minutes later, a pair of slightly damp teens entered the living room; Tamara and Duncan exchanged knowing glances and smiled.

"You two alright?" Tamara teased lightly.

Selphie plopped into the couch with a sigh. "I'm fine," she chirped. "It's Irvine who has a problem."

Irvine was attempting to run fingers through his wet ponytail (it at some point had been dunked into the sink). "Yeah, I have a problem," he said, grinning. "It's wearing a yellow sundress, it's kind of small, and it seems to like dunking my hair in soapy water."

"Hey!" Selphie exclaimed. "You needed a bath!"

Duncan chuckled. "You two are ridiculous," he said. "I remember watching a fight just like this the day we got you, Selphie-Tee."

Selphie's face was incredulous. "What do you mean?"

Tamara giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. "You were playing with another boy at the orphanage," she said dreamily, "and Edea - your Matron had been cleaning windows when we stopped by. You and this little boy were trying to dunk each other in the bucket. He was bigger than you, but you put up such a fight ...we fell in love right away." She looked at Irvine suddenly. "You said you were at the orphanage. Was that you?"

Irvine chuckled. "Probably, ma'am. From what I remember, Seff and I were always going at each other somehow."

"Mumma?" Selphie's face was suddenly solemn, her lips narrow with resolve. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

"What is it, Fia?" Tamara asked kindly.

Selphie smiled palely. "Well, see, while I was at the Garden they taught us a technique ...er, we use certain ..." She paused and gathered her words. "We fight in battle using certain spirits called Guardian Forces. They let us use amazing powers. It's how they train everybody in SeeD; there's no way we could do the things we have to otherwise. But what nobody knew until recently is that the ...the GFs absorb your memories. So none of us from the orphanage - except Irvine, who had never used one - can remember anything at all."

Tamara gasped. "No memories?" she whispered. "None at all?"

Selphie shook her head slowly. "I've lost most of my memories about the orphanage, and some of my younger experiences here with you," she said sadly. "And I - I found one when I was too young to know how to use it - and I - didn't know what I was doing. So most of my memories are wiped out."

She paused, and Irvine reached out to tuck his fingers around hers - a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by her foster parents. "They don't know if it's permanent or not yet; GFs are relatively new, and they're still experimenting on it."

"What are you asking, Fia dear?" Tamara's voice was kind. "We have photos of your entire life here, if that's what you want."

Selphie smiled and giggled a bit. "That's fantastic, Mum, and I'll be sure to come back some time and go through them. But I want to know something else." She breathed slowly. "Why is my last name Tilmitt and not Devron? Is that my real name? Do you know anything about my real parents?"

Tamara and Duncan Devron exchanged a look between them: one that said in very clear terms that this was not an unexpected question. The look held no regret; merely a small sadness, a glance backwards on more solemn times. It was prepared and resolute, yet at the same time sorrowful.

Duncan came forward and sat on Selphie's other side, putting his arm around his foster daughter. "Selphie-Tee," he said, and then paused. "I even call you Selphie T. T for Tilmitt. We've been calling you that ever since you came to live with us." The old man squeezed her tightly for a second and then sighed. "Yes, Tilmitt is your real name. We couldn't bear to take that away from you after you lost everything else."

"Lost?" Selphie sniffled.

"Yes," he said gently. "Poor little kid."

"Selphie," Tamara said. "You remember that necklace we bought you?"

Selphie reached up to tease the small locket she wore around her neck, playing it familiarly between her fingers. "Yeah!" she said. "You guys bought this for me when I first came here."

"Do you know why?"

Selphie paused, intrigued. "I don't remember," she said softly.

Tamara sighed, tucking a piece of soft gray hair behind her ear. "When we adopted you," she began, "you were wearing another locket. Edea made you take it off and gave it to us. You were so upset about the locket - you really wanted it back. So Marcus and I went out to buy you another locket to replace the one that had been taken from you."

The old woman sighed. "That locket - it was your mother's. Edea wanted to keep it safe from your childhood antics. We've kept it for you with the rest of your things, ever since."

Selphie's eyes were wide, and perhaps for the first time in her life, she was speechless.

Irvine reached out to grab her hand. "Do you have the other things?" he asked for her, softly.

Tamara smiled. "Of course, son," she said. "They're in a box in the attic. We've kept them for little Fia forever. For a while, when you were at Trabia, we wanted to wait until you graduated to give them to you." Tamara sighed. "But then you left for Balamb, and things went so fast and so far from there, and we haven't seen you since. I guess this is as good of a time as ever."

Selphie whispered: "My parents?"

Duncan stood up and patted Selphie on the shoulder. "I'll be right back," he said.

"We were really waiting for you to ask," Tamara explained softly. "But then you got older and older and we felt like we should give them to you anyway. And then you left."

"How did they know my last name?" Selphie asked.

Tamara smiled as Irvine put his hand around Selphie's shoulders much like her foster-father had. "Your parents owned a shop," she began, "largest shop in the area, or so Edea told us. Everybody knew about Tilmitt's - it was some sort of convenience store, selling items and nick-knacks and some of your mother's work. From the story Edea heard, your town was razed at some point during the war; and of course they went after the biggest shop in the area. A few townspeople found you and passed you along until you reached Edea, with the story about your family and the small collection of things in a box."

"Here," Duncan said gently. He held out a small wooden box, covered somewhat in dust. Selphie was frozen; Irvine reached out with a smile and took it, placing it in her lap.

"It's been in the attic this whole time," Duncan said, "but it was in a bag, so everything should be okay."

Incredulous, Selphie opened the lid.

It creaked lightly as a gust of ancient air escaped; she breathed in deep, inhaling the dust and the memories of time. The first thing she pulled out was an old antique locket, tarnished silver on a thin chain.

"That's it," Tamara said matter-of-factly. "That's your mother's. You wore it sometimes at the orphanage; Edea would take it from you and hide it away, but you would always figure out a way to get it back."

Irvine smiled as Selphie handed him the trinket. He had forgotten about Sefie's "treasure" and the expeditions to "rescue" it from Matron's "evil clutches".

Selphie delicately pulled out some old, yellowing pictures; a detailed brooch, also tarnished with age; a little journal; a picture-frame, three smiling faces sheltered beneath cracked glass. She was barely taking it all in. Mine. My family's. My real mother and father. Oh, Mum...

She tucked the lid back on the box, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'll look later," she said, her voice thick with emotion, closing her eyes.

She heard Irvine's low voice say, "Here."

His hands brushed her neck gently, softly; she felt something cool settle around her throat. She opened her eyes to see him diligently fastening the clasp of the old locket around her neck.

She looked down; the old silver clinked lightly against the brighter silver. Old family, new family. Clear, shining notes as metal hit metal. Silver tears, clasped around her neck.

"Thank you," she said. To Irvine. To Mum and Dad, who had kept this for her. To her real mother and father, neither of which she could remember.

Then a wave of exultation hit her. Why be sad when there's something to be happy about?

Her family. She finally had a link with her family!

After lunch she and Irvine took a walk around Gallia proper, combing the small town with excitement (Selphie) and amusement (Irvine) while Tamara and Duncan ran small errands and chatted. Most of the townspeople recognized Selphie, even "all grown up"; she remembered almost everyone's name as well. They strolled past the school where Selphie had gone until the age of thirteen, when she had taken the SeeD entry exam and gone to the shining new Trabia Garden. Then they headed back to the Devron house to have a cheerful dinner. Soon after Selphie realized the time and decided to head home.

Tamara handed Irvine a plate of cinnamon rolls while Duncan embraced his daughter. The Devrons stood on their front porch and waved until they could no longer see the car - just as Irvine predicted they would.

Once on the road, Selphie hit the gas, so happy she couldn't see straight. My family!

"Hey, Seff," Irvine's smooth voice said. "I don't think you want a ticket, do you?"

"Huh?" She looked down. "Holy Hyne! Thirty-five over!"

Irvine laughed at her. "I know you're distracted, but you'll be paying out your ears if you don't take it easy."

"You're just scared," Selphie said, but she diligently slowed herself to a mere ten over the speed limit.

"Scared for your wallet, maybe," Irvine retorted. "How will you take me out to dinner if you have to pay a speeding ticket? Or five?"

"Who says I'm taking you out?" Selphie bantered. "Isn't the guy supposed to treat the girl?"

"Hey," Irvine chuckled, holding his hands out, "I'm all for women's rights."

Selphie gave a dramatic sigh. "What happened to chivalry?"

"Ouch," Irvine said. "I'm nothing but a gentleman to you."

"Except when I'm paying," Selphie snorted.

They headed back to Trabia Garden and retreated to the room. Irvine went to buy sodas; he came back to see Selphie, sprawled across the bed, the treasures of the small wooden box displayed before her.

He sat beside her on the bed, examining her awestruck face. She looked up at him, and incredulous smile on her face. She was paging through the little journal, which appeared to be nothing more than a store record; but on the page she had paused at was a childlike scribble, and beneath it the words: Selphie, age two. Papa's pen.

"That was me!" she said, her voice soft with disbelief. "Look at this!"

Irvine smiled. He reached over to the picture frame, squinting his eyes to see beneath the cracked glass.

"This is them, huh?" A woman and man stood holding a small baby; the woman certainly had Selphie's eyes. The man's face was hidden beneath a crack in the glass.

"I guess so," Selphie said, stifling a yawn. "I don't believe this."

"Believe it or not, pretty girl, I'm tired," Irvine said, echoing her yawn. "You ready for bed?"

"There's no way I'm going to sleep," Selphie said, bouncing. "I finally have the keys to my past! Oh, Irvine!" She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. "Thank you, thank you!"

"For what?" he asked laughing. "I didn't do anything."

"For being there," she said, a little shyly. "I guess. For giving me the memories you did. Whatever. I need to thank somebody!"

"Well, thank away," Irvine replied, spreading his arms wide. "I love praise."

"Don't I know it." She stuck her tongue out and began to carefully put her treasures back in their box. She paused as she gazed down at one crackling photograph.

"Even if I never get anything else..." Her voice trailed off as she smiled. "At least I have this."

Irvine pondered to himself as Selphie changed for bed. He had never really felt the desire to look up his family, find out exactly who they were; but then again, he remembered them, remembered what had happened. He didn't want to go back to that fire. But Selphie - could he find her parents? Was there a way? Maybe Matron - Edea - would have some information. Maybe there was a clue hidden in the box.

He grinned at his own secret plan. Super-spy Irvine Kinneas hunts down girl's family. He'd probably have to figure out how to work a computer. But maybe it could be done.

Selphie climbed into bed, cuddling up next to him; he put his arm around her as she rested her head on his chest. "Vin," she said into the darkness, "thanks for coming with me."

"Any time, silly," Irvine said as he automatically kissed the top of her head. "Any time."

He stared at the dark ceiling introspectively. Why had he never bothered looking up his own family? He had been decently close to his foster family, though not as close as Zell or Selphie, apparently. Would they have had any clues about his real family and where they came from?

It had never really mattered for him. A cowboy without a home. No past to dwell on. His family had been the orphanage, in the back of his mind. He had come to terms with the family he lost and had adopted the brothers and sisters he had gained.

And that was part of the reason it had hurt so much.

Oh, give it up, Irvine. His world had fallen apart when no one had remembered him. As he put the pieces together and realized that no one else was doing the same. No one else even had a clue. Not a clue.

But he had held that world together until he couldn't take it anymore; Selphie's troubled face at Trabia's destruction had made him blurt it all out.

His thoughts turned briefly to Trabia. He wondered what Selphie's fundraiser would be able to provide. He wondered how Zell was dealing with his classes. He wondered about Quistis's mission. He wondered if Rinoa was a SeeD yet and if Squall had quit his job as Commander.

Boy. His mind was quite rambunctious tonight. While he was wondering, he tried to picture himself as an Instructor. It worked, kind of. He was still wearing his beloved cowboy hat. Irvine grinned at himself in his mind and tried to add two lovely women, one on each arm. They both came out looking like Selphie, so he wiped out one of them and kissed the other.

Faintly he began to wonder if he was awake or asleep.

Tomorrow they would start looking around Trabia, talking to the students - figuring out what was the best area to throw money at. They'd have to be on the alert for wandering Grats, however. Irvine pictured himself, following Selphie, picking off the monsters with his gun while she chattered to her old friends, oblivious. He then pictured that stuffy Headmaster Shain approaching and asking them to do an undercover investigation. Super-spy Irvine Kinneas told him no, and then a Grat jumped out of nowhere and chewed on his head.

Right. He was definitely on the verge of sleep. Ludicrous dreams were a sign of exhaustion.

Selphie twitched and murmured something, curling up closer. Irvine wiped all of the pictures out of his head and held her closer.

His last conscious thought was of Selphie's locket. He hadn't even checked if there was a picture inside.