Disclaimer: Still don't own Squaresoft, but I'm working on it! : )

~*Chapter 25*~

Rinoa sat in the sterile wards of the infirmary, shock registered on her delicate features as she listened to Doctor Kadowaki's diagnosis. "You're sure? Hyne…"

The doctor peered at her worriedly, "You're not happy? Was this planned, Rinoa?"

Rinoa shook her head, absently playing with the ring on her finger. "It wasn't planned…I guess I'm just a little surprised." She looked up, a dreamy little smile on her face. "I am happy though. It just remains to be seen how Squall take it, I hope he's ok with it."

The kindly woman placed an arm around the young woman's shoulders, "I'm positive he'll be thrilled. If he's not, there are…options available."

Rinoa's eyes flashed darkly as she rejected the suggestion vehemently, "No! I couldn't do that."

"Of course, it'll be fine. You worry too much Rinoa, you need to calm down, especially now. There's not only you to think of."

She sighed heavily, looking at her reflection in the glass. "I know. I will."

~*~*~

"Yo, Squall!" Zell ran up to the dark haired youth, a film of sweat glistening on his brow.

"Hey…Zell. What do you want?"

Zell grinned, "Rin's looking for ya. She looks pretty happy, man. What's your secret?"

The other boy tapped the side of his nose, "Need to know basis."

Zell's shoulders slumped and he looked devastated. "Damn. Well, she said she'd be in the flat when you're ready. Damn secretive bastard…" He sloped off, muttering to himself as his friend moved towards Rinoa's location.

Rinoa jumped as she heard the doors slide open with the familiar rush of air. In walked the face she loved, smiling.

"Thank Hyne he's in a good mood, it makes this a hell of a lot easier…" Rinoa thought, grinning as she met him in an embrace.

"Squall? I have something I need to tell you sweetie…It's a bit unexpected, but it's good news! I think you should maybe sit down."

He sat dutifully, looking up her expectantly with those eyes she loved. They seemed different somehow…cold. It was like looking back in time, the eyes reflecting the same cool aloofness that had been there the first time they had met. She smiled uncertainly before taking his hands in her own.

"Squall, honey, I'm, that is…Gee, this is hard!" She laughed a little, the giggles fading away as she caught the roll of his eyes.

She cleared her throat. "I'm pregnant. I'm having our child."

"You're sure it's mine?"

Rinoa stepped backwards, reeling as if from a physical blow. "How, how can you even ask me that? Of course it's yours!"

His eyes were cold as ice as they penetrated her soul. "Get rid of it."

She shivered at the venom in his words, her reply a mere whisper. "What?"

"You heard. You're enough of a whining, snivelling brat to keep me occupied as it is, I don't need your damn spawn screwing up my life as well."

"You, you are joking, right?" She sank weakly to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest as tears flowed freely down her pale skin.

"No. I mean it Rinoa. Get rid of the damn thing. I don't need another complication in my life."

He turned on his heel and stalked out, leaving Rinoa weeping softly into the mane of Angelo.

Tentative knocks at the door made her look up groggily, her head pounding in time with the incessant rapping.

She called out hoarsely to her visitor, "Come in."

To her surprise, it wasn't any of her close friends. The person who stood before her was one she would never have expected to comfort her, yet she clung to the figure desperately.

Seifer was slightly taken aback, yet he took her into his arms, smoothing her hair to still the sobs racking her small frame. "Come on Rin, ssh. What's wrong? I swear to Hyne, if Squall's hit you I'll…"

He felt her shake her head against his chest. "No Seifer, it's nothing like that…"

"What then?"

She looked up into his green eyes, for once free of the pervading smirk. "Seifer, I'm…" She felt the heat rise up her neck, some things would always be hard to say to an ex, especially an ex like Seifer.

"I'm pregnant and, and Squall was so horrible…He, he asked if it was his and he told me to get rid of our child. He said I was a brat, a whiny, snivelling brat. Is that how people see me, Seifer? My fiancee, he thinks…oh Hyne…"

He shook slightly in her grip, physically restraining his anger. Rage burned in his eyes as he spoke softly to the weeping woman he had once loved. "No one thinks that about you Rin, honest. He's probably just stressed out…he wouldn't have meant it. You stay here, ok? Get yourself looking even more gorgeous for tonight and I'll go see him."

She nodded, red, puffy eyes strengthening Seifer's resolve. "Thanks Seifer. I, I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. I'll sort it."

He made to leave, but was held back by a small hand on his arm. "Seifer, what made you come up here?"

"I came to thank that bastard for letting me back in Garden. I passed the SeeD exam."

"That's great Seifer, congratulations! Save me a dance tonight?" She winked, her indomitable spirit shining through.

"Of course Rin. I think it's great about the baby. Don't worry, he'll be up here apologising in no time."

He walked out, happy to finally wipe the false smile off his face. A fierce scowl took the place of the pleasantry and he stalked off to find Squall. "You better have a damn good reason for this Leonhart or I'll cut you up…"

~*~*~

"Squall!"

The man didn't have time to respond to the enraged shout. The next thing he knew, he was on his back in the dirt, staring at the ceiling of the training centre. He narrowed his eyes at the blond towering above him before rising to dust himself off.

"What the hell is your problem?" Stormy grey eyes coruscated in anger, malice dripping from each word.

"My problem? Take a look in the fucking mirror, Commander. You've got a hysterical fiance up there and you're down here training? You selfish bastard, it's your fault she's upset!" Seifer prodded the other in the chest, his own rage consuming him.

"She's a whinging little bitch anyway, who gives a fuck?" Seifer was taken aback by the sneer on the youths face. The blond slammed him against the wall, the tip of Hyperion threatening the tender flesh of his opponent's throat.

"I do. Now, listen and listen good Squall. Don't you ever, ever fucking hurt her again, or I'll kill you. Simple. As. That." He snapped his fingers to demonstrate his point before continuing.

"I don't care what you've done in the past and I don't give a fuck about your friends. Once they know what you done to her they won't give a flying shit if I run you through with my blade. You know it's your kid, damn it! Give Rinoa her happiness! You fuck this up, I swear to Hyne I'll fuck you up. Got it?" His voice was low, menacing, and the other boy swallowed thickly, edging the gunblade away.

"Got it. Catch you later."

"Don't forget this little chat Squally boy, it could be hazardous to your health if you do." Seifer called after the retreating figure, earning a one-fingered salute in return.

He blinked before smirking. "That little shit…no one gets away with that Squall. No one."

He winced as a throbbing headache overcame him, forcing him to his knees. He looked around, expecting someone to be playing a prank, instead finding he was alone.

"Elle?" He called out into the depths of the forest, his voice becoming lost in the foliage.

"It is not Ellone."

He felt the words reverberate in his head as he clutched his temples in agony. His eyes darted about, trying to find the unknown assailant. "Who the fuck is it then?"

"Watch your mouth boy. I told you we'd gift you with our power when you had proved yourself, proven your worthiness. You have shown you are ready to receive our power."

"Bahamut?" Seifer gasped, in awe of the image now implanted in his mind. He scowled as he saw the great King of Dragons wink.

"Who else? Do you accept?"

"I do…is Squall in on this? Is that why he's being such an ass?"

Bahamut hesitated, "Things are not as they seem with that one. There are dark forces at work here. Watch him, he wishes to cause harm to us all. Protect the angel, she is the ray of light that will end this."

The image and the headache ebbed away and Seifer was left staring at the dust. He took a moment to figure out the events that had occurred before snapping back to reality.

"Who the fuck is the angel? What do you mean about Squall? What happened to him? Answer me!" He flung Hyperion to the ground in frustration, feeling a presence nestle in a corner of his mind. He sighed.

"Are you always so damn cryptic? Jeez…"

A snicker came from somewhere inside his head and he rolled his eyes, muttering. "Think you're so bloody funny…stupid GF's with their stupid sense of humour…"

~*~*~

The man scowled at the youth sprawled lazily on the floor, grinning up at him. The lad was infuriating him, the tortures; the starvation…nothing seemed to break his spirit.

The boy addressed him, an eyebrow raised. "I was just thinking. You know, you have me sitting here stark naked for no reason I can see. Is that because you have homosexual tendencies? I got nothing against it personally, but if you wanted to see the goods, the least you could do was ask. I'd have said no of course, but it would've been polite before you forcibly removed my clothes."

The cloaked figure narrowed his eyes, his clutch on his staff so tight his knuckles were ghostly white. He left the room quickly to keep his tongue in check, his plans meant the boy could never see or hear anything that could identify him.

"I'll look forward to our next chat…don't forget that fine home cooking!" The boy's voice called after him, taunting him as he stalked down the hall.

The pressure on the staff became too great and it snapped like a twig underfoot. He tossed it aside and kept walking. "Insolent wretch…just you wait. Nations will cower before me, we'll see if you retain your jovial nature then."

The boy drew his knees up to his chest and sighed. He was even annoying himself with his comments but it had become a game, an interesting way to displease his captor and keep himself sane at the same time. He had to carry on the pretence that the beatings and the other torments being meted out were having no effect on him. One name, one face kept him going in his hell. He closed his eyes, smiling, and allowed himself the luxury of picturing her, if only for a moment.