Disclaimer: I'm not too fond of chocolate. I also don't own ff8.

~*Chapter 8*~

Rinoa lay in Squalls arms, her hair entwined between his fingers. Ever so often he would plant a soft kiss on her forehead. She sighed in contentment, life was perfect. Wasn't it? There was something missing, a bond was broken somewhere. She pondered what it could be. It wasn't anything to do with Squall, or anyone in her circle of friends. Her work? Was she impatient to begin her first mission as a SeeD? No, it wasn't that either, nor was it anything to do with her status as a sorceress. Could it possibly her relationship with that man? The more she thought, the more it became apparent that this was indeed the cause for her discontent.

She studied the form of the dozing Squall. Soft brown hair clung a little to his moist brow; rosy lips parted slightly, his tongue darting out intermittently to wet his cracked lips. He looked so peaceful. Only the vermilion scar that ran ragged from his forehead against his pale skin and the coarse, battle hardened hands hinted that he could be anything other than serene. Those hands that had spilt so much blood, which had ended so many lives, were so tender, deceptively soft against her fragile skin. She compared her small hand to his larger one. Her hands were velvety, pale as snow. Yet as innocent as they appeared, something about them hinted at great power. The power she had to keep hidden, at any cost.

A flame appeared at the tip of her finger at her command and she smiled as she blew it out, fire would be of no use to wake up her sleeping lover. A few murmured words and a small ball of water appeared above Squalls head. Her restraint failed and the water landed unceremoniously on his forehead, he spluttered as the water found its way onto his nose and mouth.

"What the…? Rin? Oh, you are so for it!" He groaned

"I needed to wake you up, I thought this would be…interesting."

"What did you need to wake me for? It better not be for, y'know…you gotta give a man time to recuperate."

"Well smarty pants, it's not! Where do you get off on having such a high opinion of yourself?" She teased

"Well Rinny, I just kinda assumed that I must be doing something right. "Oh, oh yes, oh Hyne, oh Squall!" translates to "You're damn good!" in my books." He put on a high, squeaky voice.

"Squall! Meanie!"

He sighed and looked into her eyes, "What do you need to talk about?"

"You know what you were saying the other day? About moving on? I think you're right. I need to go sort things with that man."

"Well, it could be a good start if you call him "Dad", or "Father" or "Caraway" or even by his first name, whatever that may be. Anything but "that man" would probably be preferable." He spoke slowly in a measured tone.

"Vincent." She mumbled absent-mindedly.

"What?"

She snapped back to reality, "His name's Vincent."

"Vincent Caraway. Who'd have guessed?" He mused.

"What's so strange about his name?"

"He just doesn't look like a Vincent."

"Can we go to Deling please sweetie?"

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I didn't mean to rush you." He breathed.

"I'm sure."

~*~*~

On the bridge of the Ragnarok a small figure in a bright yellow dress sat on the lap of a tall man with flowing auburn hair, tied loosely back at the nape of his neck. Under the brim of a too large cowboy hat, big green eyes peered out at him and dark red gravity defying tresses flicked up and out. He held her jade gaze with his own azure eyes and rubbed her nose softly with his own.

"You're amazing Sefie." He whispered into her ear, his hot breath making the small hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention.

"I know!" She giggled. She leapt off his lap and starting doing one of her many uniquely Selphie happy dances.

"Don't you ever sit still?" He asked in amazement.

"Nope!" Selphie stopped dancing and looked at him in confusion. He had become very quiet and was fiddling in his pocket with something.

"Whassup Irvy? Have I made you sad?" She asked, a frown marring her features.

"No Sefie. You could never make me sad. You brighten up my life. Actually, there's one thing you could do to make me unhappy." He sighed.

"Well, what would that be so I know to avoid doing it?"

"Well…you know how much I love you Sefie…"

"Yeah but you never told me before! I love you too!" She squealed, interrupting him.

"Wait Sefie, no interruptions this time. I need to get this out. I might have a roaming eye, but that's the only thing that will ever stray, its who I am, and no matter how hard I try I can't stop. I know because I've been trying so hard to stop for you baby. I could never live without you by my side, those years that we lost each other after the orphanage were the toughest of my life. The only thing that kept me going was the hope I'd see you again. Anyway, I just want you to know that I love you and I would never do anything intentionally to hurt you."

"I know Irvy, you know I don't mind. I know what you're like, and at the end of the day, it's me you come home to. What's brought all this on?" She said softly

Irvine responded by getting down on one knee, taking her small hand into his larger one. From one of his trenchcoat pockets he produced a small, polished mahogany box. For the first time in her life, Selphie was shocked into silence.

"Selphie, I may not be perfect. I might be just a stupid wannabe cowboy, but I'm a cowboy who wants to be with you. I might never be as smart as Squall, or as funny as Zell, but I will always love you the way you deserve to be loved. I think you are the most incredible person in the world, I've loved you since the day we met all those years ago back at the orphanage, and I've always known that this would happen one day. I've been preparing this speech since then!

We might be young, but the whole Ultimecia thing taught me that you have to make every moment count, 'cause we might not live to see tomorrow. I don't want to waste another second of my life without you at my side. You are everything to me, the reason I live. I know I'll never be worthy, but I'll spend the rest of my life trying to be. What I'm trying to say is; Selphie Tilmitt, will you make me the happiest man in the world and do me the great honour of being my wife?"

He raked a hand through his hair nervously, his tongue wetting his lips as he opened the little box with trembling hands. Inside, a thin band of white gold lay against an inlay of midnight blue. A square diamond graced the middle, sparkling in the dawn light and sending rainbows flying around the cockpit. On either side of the diamond, two small emeralds shone the exact colour of her eyes. A small tear ran from one of her eyes, leaving its tell tale trail down her cheek. Her head was bowed, the cowboy hat hiding her face from him.

"Selphie? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. If I could turn back time, I'd never have…" Irvine was wounded, but her well being was more important.

Selphie looked up, a grin that spread from ear to ear on her petite face. Unshed tears made her eyes sparkle.

"Don't you dare say you'd take it back so soon Kinneas! Give it ten or twenty years, then you can say that!"

"You're not sad?" He asked in a small voice.

She laughed, "What have I got to be sad about? The world's safe, I've got a great job, even better friends and the man I've loved since I was a kid has just asked me to spend the rest of my life with him!"

"Does that mean it's a yes?"

"Duh!"

He leapt up and punched the air, "Booyaka!"

She looked at him thoughtfully, "That's my line."

"Sorry. Do you like the ring?" Irvine grinned sheepishly

"It's perfect Irvy. Just perfect." Selphie sighed contentedly, snuggling into him. He jumped up again, catching her in his arms and twirling her around, laughing at his good fortune,

"Woah, Irvy! Don't you ever sit still?" She teased

"Nope!" he grinned at his bride to be and pulled her close to him, sealing their true love vows with a tender kiss.

A/N: Silly Laguna, how we all love him. Anyway, check out angels kingdom hearts fic, if you didn't particularly like the game, you will still love it and refugees ff7/8/10, crossover, A Knight of Spira is AMAZING. Now, has anyone seen my banana…? : )